Tuesday 6 November 2012

Using adverbs in academic texts














The two main reasons for using adverbs are:

a) to provide more detail with verbs and adjectives:

         Reasonably good data is available for the last twenty years
         Decomposition eventually ceases in landfill sites

b) to introduce new points, generally at the start of sentences:

        Currently, the earth's atmosphere seems to be ...
         Alternatively, the use of non-conventional renewable energies ...

Adverbs usually give information about:

a) Time (when?) - The statistics were examined retrospectively

b) Degree (how much?) - Output declined considerably

c) Manner (in what way?) - The conclusion was legally correct

When using adverbs to introduce sentences writers need to take care not to be subjective. Adverbs can work like the author's 'voice', so that words like 'fortunately' or 'happily' can be seen as expressing personal opinions.

      Sadly, poverty is still common in rural districts 

      Currently, poverty is still common in rural districts

 

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