In a recent article for the Guardian, Maddie York defends the humble adverb and calls for adverbs to be used more frequently in writing today.

‘There’s a degree of snobbery towards adverbs in writing, especially fiction. Prose littered with adverbs is seen as bad, too directive and controlling, as it tells the reader exactly how everything is being done and said. Students on creative writing courses have the message “show, don’t tell” drilled into them. I can go along with this to a certain point. It’s arguable that you shouldn’t state that a character spoke angrily if the words she’s saying, or her actions, show that anger perfectly well.’

When reading a novel I do not want to be told everything about a character via adverbs.

“Angela jealously snatched at Mary’s handbag woefully lamenting her lack of money.”

But I do agree with Maddie that adverbs can add flare to banal prose writing. Where would the English language be without fabulously pretentious words like utterly and frightfully? Next time you write an essay or a blog post, spare a thought for words like knavishly, owlishly and joshingly. You too can sound like a 1950′s advert by employing a few well placed adverbs.