Limiting Adverbs in Technical Writing

Academic writing is built on clarity, precision, and credibility. Readers turn to research papers expecting arguments supported by evidence, not by embellishment. Yet many manuscripts rely heavily on adverbs—words such as very, extremely, clearly, obviously, remarkably, or highly. These words may seem to add emphasis, but in practice they rarely strengthen scholarly work. More often, they blur meaning, introduce subjectivity, or make a study sound less rigorous. Below we cover several reasons why adverbs should generally be avoided in academic writing.

Adverbs can blur meaning
A core strength of academic writing is precision. Adverbs, however, tend to do the opposite. A claim such as “this method is very effective at predicting outcomes” leaves the reader with questions: how effective, by what measure, and compared to what? A stronger version might read: “This method predicts outcomes with 92% accuracy across three datasets.” By replacing the vague modifier with concrete detail, the statement becomes verifiable. In research, numbers, comparisons, and definitions carry more weight than intensifiers.

Adverbs can introduce subjectivity
Adverbs often betray the writer’s perspective rather than the evidence itself. Words like clearly or obviously assume the reader’s agreement. However, what is obvious to one researcher may be debatable—or even obscure—to another. For example: “Clearly, this experiment demonstrates the superiority of the method.” The adverb adds little to the claim. In contrast, “This experiment demonstrates that the method outperforms alternatives in four out of five trials,” makes the same point but does so by pointing directly to the evidence. The persuasion comes from the data, not the author’s insistence.

Adverbs can exaggerate
Adverbs such as remarkably, notably, or extremely can sometimes highlight unusual findings, but overuse makes them sound like exaggeration. For instance, “The results were remarkably consistent across experiments” may seem impressive but offers little that can be verified. A clearer statement would be: “The results were consistent across all five experiments, with variance less than 2%.” By grounding emphasis in measurable facts, the claim becomes both convincing and credible.

Adverbs undermine objectivity
Perhaps the most damaging effect of adverbs is that they can erode the tone of neutrality that academic readers expect. Words like undoubtedly, absolutely, or certainly risk making a paper sound emotional rather than analytical. For instance: “This result undoubtedly proves the hypothesis.” This phrasing suggests conviction more than evidence. A more measured version, “This result supports the hypothesis within the tested parameters,” demonstrates confidence while maintaining a professional tone. Maintaining objectivity is key to building trust with an academic audience.

Letting evidence do the work
The temptation to use adverbs usually comes from a desire to emphasize importance. But true emphasis in academic writing comes from presenting data clearly and accurately. Replace “highly significant” with the actual p-value. Swap “very effective” for the measured improvement. Instead of “clearly demonstrates,” simply state what the results show. This approach does not weaken the writing—it strengthens it. Reviewers and readers want to see the reasoning and evidence for themselves. By letting the results stand on their own, the argument becomes more convincing.

Adverbs may feel like helpful tools, but in academic writing they usually add noise rather than substance. They blur meaning, introduce bias, exaggerate claims, and weaken credibility. Careful word choice and reliance on evidence often make a stronger impression. When revising a manuscript, pause whenever you encounter an adverb. Ask: Could this idea be expressed more precisely? Could I replace the modifier with data, or with a stronger word? These small adjustments improve not only the clarity of the prose but also the persuasiveness of the research itself.