Adverb Highlighter
Paste an English draft and the tool highlights words ending in -ly, then shows the total matches and the unique list. It catches likely adverbs such as quickly, really, basically, carefully and technically, but it is a suffix highlighter rather than a grammar parser: non-ly adverbs such as very, quite, just, now and here are not detected, and false positives such as family, bully and holy still need a human check.
How to review -ly words in English text
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1
Paste the full English draft
Drop in a paragraph, chapter or full article. The tool scans for word tokens whose letters end in -ly.
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2
Review the bracketed matches
The result shows a total count, a unique list and your text with each -ly match bracketed.
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3
Separate adverbs from false positives
Likely adverbs such as quickly and technically are useful editing signals; words such as family, bully and holy are just suffix matches.
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4
Edit with context
Rewrite weak -ly adverbs when a stronger verb or adjective works better, and make a separate manual pass for non-ly adverbs such as very, quite and just.
What this tool actually detects
| Match type | Examples | How to review |
|---|---|---|
| Manner adverbs | quickly, softly, carefully | Often worth rewriting if the verb can carry more force |
| Degree or filler adverbs | really, basically, extremely | Often removable, especially before adjectives or weak verbs |
| Necessary qualifiers | legally, technically, arguably | Keep when accuracy or nuance depends on them |
| Connectors and sequence words | consequently, finally, similarly | Usually keep when they guide the reader |
| False positives | family, bully, holy | Ignore unless the word is actually functioning as an adverb in context |
What it misses
| Not detected | Examples | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Non-ly English adverbs | very, quite, just, now, here, often, always | The tool only checks the -ly ending |
| Non-English adverb patterns | schnell, rápidamente, doucement, lentamente | German, Spanish, French, Italian and other languages need their own detection rules |
| Grammar roles | adjective vs. adverb usage | The tool does not parse grammar; it only matches a suffix |
The Stephen King rule, with a caveat
“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.” The practical version here is narrower: use the -ly list as a checklist for weak modifiers, not as a verdict. “She ran quickly” often becomes tighter as “She sprinted”; “It was really cold” may become “It was freezing.” But legally, technically or consequently may be exactly the word the sentence needs.
A practical review workflow
Do not delete mechanically:
- Read each bracketed -ly word in its sentence.
- Cut it only when the replacement is clearer or stronger.
- Ignore false positives such as family, bully and holy.
- Run a separate manual pass for non-ly adverbs such as very, quite, just, now and here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, it counts any word ending in -ly. That catches many English adverbs (quickly, really, basically, carefully), but it is not a dictionary or grammar parser, so false positives such as “family,” “bully” and “holy” can appear.
No. Really, basically and extremely are often worth questioning, but legally, technically, consequently and similar words may be necessary. Decide from the sentence, not from the count alone.
No. Those are common English adverbs, but they do not end in -ly, so this tool will not mark them. Check them manually after the suffix pass.
No. The matcher only looks for words ending in the letters -ly. German adverbs (schnell, leicht), Spanish -mente adverbs (rápidamente), French -ment adverbs and other language patterns need different rules and are not supported.
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