‘Maybe’ and ‘perhaps’ have similar meanings. ‘Perhaps’ is
the more formal word. ‘Maybe’ can be used when writing in
a more colloquial style or in dialogue.
Sparing the adverbs
As with adjectives, some adverbs are used unnecessarily. By
their incessant use, they often lose their impact and even
their meaning can become obscured. Look at the following
examples.
He’s aterrifyingly good player.‘Terrifyingly’ has connotations of terror but this sentence
debases the word. Why not replace both adverb and adjec-
tive with ‘excellent’?
He’s anexcellent player.What about the following?
She cooked asuperbly delicious meal.This is going ‘over the top’. Use the adjective ‘superb’ by
itself.
She cooked asuperb meal.The following are familiar expressions but in all of them the
adverb has lost its original meaning.
I’mfrightfully sorry.COLOURING YOUR WRITING / 85