Manuscript Analysis Free · in-browser · optional cloud history

Adverb Counter

Count -ly adverbs in your fiction manuscript, see density per 1,000 words, and highlight top offenders. Free private browser tool for AI draft cleanup and KDP polish.

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Paste your text above, then click Analyze — or use Try sample for a quick demo.

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About this tool

Adverbs are not forbidden, but AI drafts often lean on -ly modifiers until every action is "quietly," "slowly," or "suddenly" qualified. This adverb counter totals every -ly adverb, ranks the most frequent, shows density per 1,000 words, and highlights occurrences so you can replace weak modifiers with stronger verbs. Paste from Story Studio or any chapter export — analysis stays in your browser.

What you can do

  • Full count of -ly adverbs with false-positive filtering for words like "only" and "family"
  • Density stat per 1,000 words benchmarked against commercial fiction norms
  • Top-adverb leaderboard showing repeat offenders across your paste
  • In-context highlights so you can revise without hunting through the manuscript
  • Works on single scenes, chapters, or full novel pastes
  • Fast re-scan after edits to confirm density dropped
  • Complements the Manuscript Cleanup Report for a focused adverb pass

Swap -ly crutches for stronger verbs

Adverb density spikes when models pad action. Rank offenders, rewrite the top repeats, and keep intentional modifiers that add meaning — especially in literary voice.

Manuscript cleanup · Dialogue tag analyzer · Filter words

How to use it

  1. Paste your prose into the text area.
  2. Click Analyze to count and highlight every -ly adverb.
  3. Check density — many editors target under 15–20 per 1,000 words.
  4. Review the top-adverb list for repeat offenders like "slowly" or "quietly."
  5. Revise flagged lines with stronger verbs, then re-scan to confirm improvement.

Tips for fiction authors

  • Replace "walked slowly" with "shuffled" or "crept." A precise verb eliminates the adverb and adds character.
  • Adverbs on dialogue tags ("said quietly") almost always weaken. Use an action beat instead: "She lowered her voice."
  • Action scenes benefit most from adverb cutting — every -ly modifier slows pacing where speed matters.
  • Genre matters: literary fiction tolerates more adverbs than thrillers. Compare your density to published books in your genre.
  • AI models overuse "suddenly" and "immediately." Cut those first in thriller and romance openings.

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Common questions
How many adverbs are too many?

There is no hard rule, but commercial fiction often stays under 15–20 -ly adverbs per 1,000 words. Use the density stat as a benchmark.

Does it count words like "only" or "family"?

The tool filters common false positives like "only," "early," and "family" that end in -ly but are not adverbs.

Should I delete all adverbs?

No. Cut adverbs that duplicate what the verb already shows, and keep those that add meaning or voice.

Is my text uploaded for analysis?

No. All adverb counting runs locally in your browser on Entangled Text.

Why do AI drafts overuse adverbs?

Models qualify actions to sound descriptive without choosing precise verbs. This counter makes that habit visible fast.

Is this an adverb finder or an adverb checker?

Both, and the same tool either way. Paste a chapter and it finds every -ly adverb, counts them per 1,000 words, and lists the ones you lean on hardest. Words like only, early and family are filtered out, and nothing is rewritten for you.

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