Writing with Adjectives
Words to Describe Affect: Flat, Blunted, Labile and More
In psychology and medicine, affect (stressed on the first syllable: AF-fect) is a person’s visible emotional expression: what you can…
The right word, for whatever you are trying to describe
Adjective lists for every subject you might write about, and plain-English guides to using them well. Free, and written to be read in a couple of minutes.
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One half teaches you to use adjectives well. The other hands you the words.
252 guides
Writing with Adjectives
How adjectives behave in a sentence — the order they fall into, how they compare, when they carry opinion rather than fact, and how to reach for a vivid word without overreaching.
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Adjectives by Subject
Curated describing words for people, food, places, feelings, work and more — each list sorted by shade of meaning, with example sentences so you can hear how the word behaves.
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Nature & Environment
92 lists
Emotions & Feelings
74 lists
Work & Professions
71 lists
People & Relationships
69 lists
Objects & Everyday Things
69 lists
Personality & Character
68 lists
Animals & Creatures
49 lists
Appearance & Physical Traits
42 lists
Arts & Entertainment
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34 lists
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Education & Learning
24 lists
Health & Wellness
21 lists
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Writing with Adjectives
Limiting Adjectives: Definition, Types and Examples
Limiting adjectives are words that come before a noun and narrow down which thing or how many you mean, without…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives Anchor Chart: What to Put on It, With Ready-to-Copy Examples
A good adjectives anchor chart does one job: it reminds students that an adjective is a word that describes a…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjective + Infinitive: Easy to Read, Happy to Help
An adjective followed by a to-infinitive is one of the most common patterns in English: happy to help, easy to…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives Ending in -ly: Friendly, Lovely, Costly and More
Most words ending in -ly are adverbs (quickly, slowly), but a few dozen common ones are adjectives: friendly, lovely, lonely,…
Writing with Adjectives
Postpositive Adjectives: When the Adjective Comes After the Noun
A postpositive adjective is an adjective placed straight after the noun or pronoun it describes, instead of before it: attorney…
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Editors’ picks
Animals & Creatures
Describing Tigers: A Comprehensive Guide to Adjectives
Understanding how to use adjectives effectively is crucial for vivid and descriptive writing. When we talk about tigers, we want…
Work & Professions
Describing the Workplace: Adjectives for the Office
Understanding and using adjectives effectively is crucial for describing any environment, especially the professional setting of an office. Adjectives help…
Work & Professions
Describing Quality: Adjectives for Services Explained
Choosing the right adjectives to describe services is crucial for effective communication, whether you’re a business promoting your offerings or…
Nature & Environment
Describing the Night Sky: Mastering Adjectives
The night sky, a canvas of celestial wonders, has captivated humanity for millennia. To effectively communicate its beauty and mystery,…
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Grammar essentials
01
Descriptive Adjectives: Painting Vivid Settings with Words
Writing with Adjectives · 18 min
02
Elevate Your Writing: Powerful Adjectives to Replace “Said”
Writing with Adjectives · 19 min
03
Descriptive Adjectives: Enhancing Speech and Writing
Writing with Adjectives · 15 min
04
The Dangling Modifier, and Why Your Sentence Sounds Absurd
Writing with Adjectives · 3 min
05
Comprise, Compose, Consist: The One That Takes No “Of”
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
06
143 Adjectives That Start With T
Writing with Adjectives · 4 min
07
Proper Adjectives: When an Adjective Takes a Capital Letter
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
08
Describing the Void: Mastering Adjectives for Silence
Writing with Adjectives · 12 min
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Plain-English grammar guides and curated adjective lists. Free to read, checked against Merriam-Webster, Chicago and AP before publication.
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