Avoiding To Be Verbs In Essays

When you write, you will naturally need to use both linking and action verbs; both verb types play a critical role in the English language.However, the overuse of linking verbs can sometimes leave a piece of writing flat.Use of nouns formed from verbs (called nominalizations, often ending in –ence, -ness, -tion) weakens the action.

When you write, you will naturally need to use both linking and action verbs; both verb types play a critical role in the English language.However, the overuse of linking verbs can sometimes leave a piece of writing flat.

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The over-riding aim, as in all types of writing, is to write as clearly and simply as possible.

in formal English is a need to sound impersonal, objective and functional.

) are frequently said to be unsuitable in formal writing.

Indeed, the absence of these words, along with various others, is often part of the very definition of this sort of writing (see 166. Academic and professional writers do not try to use impressive wording for its own sake; they only resort to it in order to avoid an undesirable alternative.

Compare these two versions of a paragraph from a business letter (key verbs appear in boldface): Version 1 There are three factors influencing my decision to end partnership discussions with you.

First, you are not knowledgeable about industry regulations.: The reason that the author uses this language is to emphasize Jonah’s grief.Passive voice verbs are composed of a form of the verb to be and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “are composed”).Yet in surprisingly many cases this strategy is not possible. For example, in (d) above the complement a group member matches I – they are the same person.The following sentences (except the first) illustrate a range of situations that rule it out. A complement is a noun, pronoun or adjective that is matched by a verb to an earlier noun or pronoun (see 8. Complements can often be recognised from the verbs they follow: BECOME, BE and a few others.Second, you are often several days late in returning my phone calls.Third — and most important — you are not willing to sign an agreement limiting my liability in case the business is not successful.These words are felt to conflict with that because they make unnecessary references to particular people.They are suitable only when they stand for particular , it is necessary to know what substitute language can replace them.Passive voice creates sentences in which the subject noun receives rather than does the action and the doer of the action often is not stated.Use the active voice when it is important to know who or what performs the action. (Examples: this shows that, this serves as a way to, this is an example of, the reason why is, because of the fact, due to the fact, in the event of, by means of, …) : It is Ryan’s combination of limited evidence and excessive sarcasm that seriously weakens the argument.