Avoid overusing the verb ‘to be’

The verb ‘to be’, when overused, can make your text sound static and lacking in action. We can usually rephrase the sentences. Try your hand and maybe use an AI tool to help.

Examples of sentences with the verb ‘to be’ in bold.

1. 1. In 2024, there was an internal opportunity for an acting post and I submitted the application. 
2. 2. It was my role to assist the team.
3. 3. Furthermore, between 1977 and 1997, there were sharply increased CO₂ emissions in the two countries. 
4. 4. In 1967, the highest average carbon dioxide pollution per person was in the United Kingdom. 
5. 5. The intent of the framework is to catalyze a transformational shift towards sustainable chemistry in the chemical and downstream sectors in a life-cycle approach.
6. 6. My first challenge was that my team was facing a significant backlog of work.

Answer key courtesy of Microsoft’s AI tool Copilot, authorized for use by the United Nations and WHO. NB: Never put anything confidential into an AI tool.

My prompt: Sent by you: Rephrase these sentences so that the verb ‘to be’ is removed and replaced while keeping the meaning:

Sent by Copilot:

Sure, here are the sentences rephrased without using the verb ‘to be’:

1. 1. In 2024, an internal opportunity for an acting post arose, and I submitted the application.
2. 2. My role involved assisting the team.
3. 3. Furthermore, between 1977 and 1997, CO₂ emissions in the two countries increased sharply.
4. 4. In 1967, the United Kingdom recorded the highest average carbon dioxide pollution per person.
5. 5. The framework aims to catalyse a transformational shift towards sustainable chemistry in the chemical and downstream sectors using a life-cycle approach.
6. 6. My first challenge involved addressing a significant backlog of work faced by my team.

You need to double-check Copilot’s version, as number 4 has a slightly different meaning to the original.

________________________________________________
Carol Waites (PhD)
Email: carolswritingtips@gmail.com
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Presentation/editing by Christina O’Shaughnessy (editor)
https://worldwidewriting.org/