Process Conclusions Conciseness Verbs Data Conventions	More on general-action verbs
	The general-action verb presents the same problem as the being verb: the word in the verb position presents no action, yet the writer is implying activity for the sentence. In such a case, the writer would do well to choose the word with the action and use it as the verb. This is a general rule for decisive sentences: the idea expressed by the verb is the main idea of the sentence, and that main idea, for a powerful style, should usually be some activity. We did an evaluation of the product. The verb in that sentence, did, gives no particular picture of the action performed. Clearly the writer had the action evaluated in mind. We evaluated the product. The second sentence is more concise, more forceful, and more confident. If you find yourself frequently writing general-action verbs, you may be distancing yourself from the main event. For example, financial analysts should be telling us about the health of companies, but sometimes they lose sight of that and tell us only about data in such sentences as this: During the third quarter, sales experienced a sharp decline. The underlying image of that sentence reveals the analyst looking at figures; the reader is interested in a more engaging and simpler truth: During the third quarter, sales declined sharply. The most common general-action verbs are these: make do give effect provide experience exhibit show achieve realize perform conduct occur result in accomplish enjoy suffer post
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