Writing with Adjectives
Mood Words: Words to Describe Mood in Writing, With Examples
Mood words describe the feeling a piece of writing, a scene or a place creates in the reader: eerie, peaceful,…
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.
237 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.
Browse the guides714 word lists
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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Find the adjective you are reaching for
Pick the subject you are writing about — the list is already made.
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
38 lists
Food & Drinks
34 lists
Travel & Places
34 lists
Events & Celebrations
29 lists
Education & Learning
24 lists
Health & Wellness
21 lists
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Work & Professions
106 Adjectives for a Hard-Working Person
Most lists on this subject are lists of compliments. This one is not, and it says which is which: of…
People & Relationships
62 Words to Describe a God
The striking thing about this vocabulary is how much of it is built out of negatives. 15 of the 62…
Writing with Adjectives
Descriptive Language: What It Is and How to Write It
Descriptive language is writing that uses sensory detail, precise words and comparisons so the reader can picture a person, place…
Writing with Adjectives
250+ Describing Words by Category, and How to Choose Them
Describing words are words that tell you what something is like: its size, colour, sound, feel, mood or character. Most…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives With Prepositions: Good At, Afraid Of, Interested In
Many English adjectives are followed by one specific preposition, and the pairing has to be learned rather than worked out.…
Worth your time
Editors’ picks
Writing with Adjectives
Affect and Effect: One Trick Covers Ninety Percent of Cases
Affect is usually the verb, effect is usually the noun, and the exceptions are rare enough to learn individually.
People & Relationships
Adjectives for Kids: A Fun Guide to Describing Words
Adjectives are the superheroes of the sentence world! They help us paint vivid pictures with words, making our writing and…
Writing with Adjectives
Descriptive Adjectives: Painting Vivid Settings with Words
Describing a setting effectively transports your reader into the story, making it feel real and immersive. Strong adjectives are crucial…
Writing with Adjectives
Describing Distance: Mastering Adjectives of Proximity and Separation
Understanding how to describe distance accurately is crucial for effective communication in English. Whether you’re giving directions, narrating a story,…
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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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