Adjectives and Description

Adjectives are defined thus by Dictionary.com:

Any member of a class of words that modify nouns and pronouns, primarily by describing a particular quality of the word they are modifying.

On a technical note: adjectives either describe one noun, or compare one noun to another noun.

When writing you place your adjectives in the following manner:

1. adjective noun: magnificent castle
2. subject verb adjective: Ron fell slowly

Some articles online suggest that you should use strong words when writing your story and avoid being too wordy. However, description can create impact and clarity for your reader. That is, if you are keeping your focus on the story and not describing the mundane.

C.S. Lewis stated it perfectly

“In writing. Don't use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us a thing was "terrible," describe it so that we'll be terrified. Don't say it was "delightful"; make us say "delightful" when we've read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers, "Please will you do my job for me."

By now, you should be saying, "Show, don't tell", to yourself. If not, then you just did. Keep that in mind when you are writing your story.


Learn more here

• A Spoonful of Sugar
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• The Difference Between Adjectives and Adverbs
• Don’t Use Adverbs and Adjectives to Prettify Your Prose
• Writerisms and other Sins: A Writer’s Shortcut to Stronger Writing