Manuscript Analysis Free · in-browser · optional cloud history

Adverb Finder & Checker

Adverb finder for fiction. Paste a chapter to list every -ly adverb, density per 1,000 words, and the repeats to cut. Nothing is rewritten.

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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

This adverb finder marks every -ly adverb in a chapter, counts them per 1,000 words, and lists the ones you repeat. Words that only look like adverbs, such as only, early, and family, are left out. Paste from Story Studio or any export. The count stays in your browser, and the tool does not rewrite the prose.

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 do I find adverbs in a novel draft?

Paste a chapter into this adverb finder. It lists every -ly adverb, shows density per 1,000 words, and ranks the repeats. Commercial fiction often stays under 15–20 -ly adverbs per 1,000 words. That is a benchmark, not a rule.

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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