Antony West (Author)

We’ve all seen it: a piece of writing drowning in a sea of adjectives. Every noun has a ‘deep, dark, mysterious’ adjective attached to it. It’s like a writer went mad in a thesaurus factory. And while it might seem like a good thing, it’s often a sign of a writer trying too hard. This is where we need to teach ‘economy’ of language. Let’s borrow from Sue Cowley and her focus on clear instruction. Encourage students to choose one powerful adjective instead of five weak ones. Teach them that sometimes, the best description comes from a strong verb or a well-placed adverb. The goal is to build a vivid picture, not a wordy mess.