Precise Adjectives for Good and Bad

Use one sheet a week and ask students to add the bank words to their own writing. Have them explain why a word fits one sentence better than another.

Replace good and bad with exact adjectives from a bank, such as rancid, exemplary and detrimental. The directions on the page read: Replace the bold word in each sentence with the word from the bank that fits best. Write it on the line. Use each word once. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 7th grade writing process, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

It means choosing the exact word for your meaning, such as trudged instead of walked or rancid instead of bad. The sheets here give a bank of exact words and context clues, and students match each one to its sentence.

Use a stronger adverb or one strong adjective. Strong Adverbs Instead of Very and Really gives a bank with words such as remarkably, fiercely and profoundly, and it ends with two items that call for one strong adjective.

Read the dialogue and the clues around it to find the speaker's feeling, then pick the verb that matches. Precise Verbs for Said and Asked offers verbs such as boasted, pleaded and scoffed.

Exact words say more in fewer words and help readers picture the idea. The sheets also show how close words differ, such as spacious and cramped or swiftly and abruptly.