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.
239 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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Pick the subject you are writing about — the list is already made.
Nature & Environment
87 lists
Emotions & Feelings
73 lists
Work & Professions
69 lists
Personality & Character
67 lists
Objects & Everyday Things
67 lists
People & Relationships
63 lists
Animals & Creatures
47 lists
Appearance & Physical Traits
40 lists
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33 lists
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Events & Celebrations
27 lists
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
Events & Celebrations
Adjectives for Gathering: Describing Collections and Assemblies
Adjectives for gathering are crucial for enriching our descriptions of different types of collections, assemblies, and meetings. They allow us…
Nature & Environment
Describing the Azure Sky: A Guide to Adjectives for Blue
The English language offers a rich tapestry of words to describe the myriad shades and nuances of the color blue.…
Writing with Adjectives
Adjectives for “Hard”: A Comprehensive Guide
The English language offers a rich tapestry of words to describe varying degrees and types of difficulty. While “hard” serves…
People & Relationships
Describing People: A Comprehensive Guide to Adjectives
Adjectives are essential for bringing language to life, particularly when describing people. They allow us to convey not just physical…
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Grammar essentials
01
Adjectives for the Future: Predicting and Describing What’s to Come
Writing with Adjectives · 15 min
02
Describing Time: Mastering Adjectives for Years in English
Writing with Adjectives · 12 min
03
Terrific Tuesday: Mastering Adjectives for the Second Day of the Week
Writing with Adjectives · 13 min
04
“Irregardless” and the Words People Insist Are Not Words
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
05
The Phrases That Say the Same Thing Twice
Writing with Adjectives · 2 min
06
140 Adjectives That Start With H
Writing with Adjectives · 9 min
07
Mood Words: Words to Describe Mood in Writing, With Examples
Writing with Adjectives · 6 min
08
Describing Homes: Mastering Adjectives for Houses
Writing with Adjectives · 16 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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