The Raw Power of Verbs

Action Verbs, Beginner

Action Verbs, College and Resumes

Sentences are actually much stronger when they prefer "action verbs" more than weaker, helping verbs known as the auxiliary verbs. Allow me to revise that:

Sentences exude much more power and action, eschewing the use of auxiliary verbs.

As early as junior high school and high school, we largely begin to code in uncertainty into our sentences, primarily because we are afraid of retribution on the part of our 'scary' English instructors:

I believe that the main character feels that way because that's what the book said so. At least, that's my opinion.
I think that the U.S. government needs to do more to stimulate the economy.
In my opinion, I feel that the narrator is too wimpy.

Notice that each of these patterns have a weak SV structure at the beginning—almost everything you write or give forth in communication is an opinion; as such, "I believe," "I think," "In my opinion," "I feel"—such phrases are redundant, because they inevitably reveal themselves to say to the reader, "I have an opinion, so don't hit me over the head because of them." Also notice that there's no real expansion to those opinions; these days, it isn't enough to just provide such opinions, but it's equally important to expand upon them powerfully.

Woody Allen often speaks with a lack of confidence in his films, but that's Woody Allen's schtick—when that level of uncertainty gets coded into writing, it betrays uncertainty and deference to the audience.

The main character feels an intense sense of passion for the woman at the floral shop: he demonstrates his ardor when he buys her several flowers from her own shop.
The U.S. economy should create an economic stimulus package by sending out rebate checks to the lower and middle classes, stopping at the $85,000 mark—those who fall into a 'richer' bracket need not have a rebate.
The narrator exudes a lack of courage: he simply has no spine.

By carefully using action verbs and by giving even a stronger expansion, one might conclude that the principle difference between high school writing and college writing is a confidence in verbs and a willingness to expand.