CONTENTS FEATURE: Use strong verbs, don't bolster weak ones GRAMMAR COACH: Fielding your questions NET NOTES: Captivating Web sites FINDER'S FEE: Recommend a friend—and earn up to $500 FEATURE: Use strong verbs instead of bolstering weak ones      Writers seeking to improve their sentence construction can take a lesson from commercial fencing contractors. When building a wooden fence, contractors recommend supporting posts of strong, durable materials. Fences made with substandard posts begin to lean and need to be propped up with additional pieces of lumber to remain standing.      Verbs are the "supporting posts" of written communication. They convey the most essential information, and can constitute complete sentences on their own: Stay. Leave. Eat. Listen. Run!      Some verbs, however, are less forceful than others. Writers resort to adverbs, adverbial phrases or other structures to bolster inert, listless verbs.      Perhaps the most common linguistic prop is the adverb "very," followed by "really," "truly" and other buttressing words. The music was very loud. Leonard walked really slowly down the hall. The protesters clearly became angry when the bulldozers appeared. The water was running quite fast from the spigot. How boring.      Instead, why not say that the music blared or thundered? Leonard ambled down the hall. Appearance of the bulldozers enraged the protesters. Water surged from the spigot.      A business executive's biographical profile stated "he has strong feelings about the importance of continuing-education programs for employees." The verb in that sentence, "has," is unimaginative and weak. The statement can be invigorated by substituting a more dynamic verb embodying the concept that "he has strong feelings," and restructuring the sentence accordingly: "He recognizes the importance of continuing education programs for employees." The verb "recognize" confirms that he has determined his point of view based upon compelling evidence and arguments. Here's an even more concise version: "He advocates continuing-education programs for employees."      A report summarizing the proceedings of a meeting said that "school board members expressed anger at the campaign tactics of two candidates." The verb in that sentence is "expressed," which alone does not convey what occurred—that the board members were angered sufficiently to condemn the behavior of two candidates. Choice of a more evocative verb results in a more potent sentence: "School board members denounced the campaign tactics of two candidates."      One of the candidates issued a statement saying "she gave careful thought to the implications of conversion to year-round operation of elementary schools." Substituting a verb that elucidates the idea of "giving careful thought" or "examining methodically" yields a more explicit version: "She analyzed the implications of conversion to year-round schooling."      An employment counselor offering advice to unsuccessful job seekers wrote, "At worst, we can be living in a total fantasy world of how others see us." The verb structure in that sentence, "can be living," fails to reflect the action that the sentence was intending to convey. Although it's not apparent, the counselor was referring to thought processes involving self-perception, rather than to a passive statement of condition ("living in a fantasy world"). Replacing the inappropriate verb "living" and awkward prepositional phrase "in a fantasy world" with a succinct, accurate verb yields a more pointed statement: "We may be deluding ourselves about how others see us."      Consider some additional before-and-after examples. Before After Some job seekers intentionally narrow their list of potential employers to the point that it becomes very difficult to get a new job. Job seekers who restrict their list of potential employers may struggle to find a new job. Thomas became deeply involved in interior design. Thomas immersed himself in interior design. Take a good look at Rob's proposal before he submits it. Scrutinize Rob's proposal before he submits it. Her family really has a lot of money. Her family is wealthy. Almost all of the speakers at last night's city council meeting voiced strong opposition to the planned demolition of the old bridge. Almost all speakers at last night's city council meeting assailed the planned demolition of the old bridge. We want to make a constructive imprint on the process of developing plans for the remainder of the sector's commercially zoned land. We want to collaborate in the development planning process for the sector's remaining commercially zoned land. If the sector is rezoned from light industrial use and the general plan is ignored, there is little doubt this will be the first of many big-box stores and strip malls in the city. Rezoning the sector from light industrial use, in defiance of the general plan, would encourage development of additional big-box stores and strip malls in the city. City staff members and mall development supporters have continuously repeated the assertion that the city is losing tax revenue. City staff members and mall development supporters assert that the city is losing tax revenue. We're very conscious of what makes this town special. We know why this town is distinctive. We had an enjoyable time at the party. We enjoyed the party.      All of the example sentences were improved by inserting strong, expressive verbs in place of weak verbs that depended upon adverbs and cumbersome phrases. Dissect the verb forms you use and, where you can, substitute more dynamic verbs that animate your ideas and convictions—and help dispel the impression that you're sitting on the fence. Yes! EditPros can help you articulate your position concisely, unequivocally and persuasively. GRAMMAR COACH: Fielding your questions Gary Beall submitted this month's question:      "When naming agricultural commodities, many single commodities are plural in description, such as cherries, almonds, apricots, tomatoes. Which is correct: 'Tomatoes are the leading commodity', or 'Tomatoes is the leading commodity?'" The grammar coach replies:           The dilemma stems from a subject-verb agreement. "Commodity" is a singular noun that means "a product of agriculture or mining" or "an article of commerce prepared for shipment." A singular noun used as the subject of a sentence requires a singular verb—in this case, "is." However, "commodity" presents a special case because it often is used as a collective noun—one that is singular in form yet denotes a group of individuals or component parts. Collective nouns include "team," "jury," "public" and "committee."      In the example sentence "tomatoes are the leading commodity," the sentence subject is a plural noun—"tomatoes" (which requires the plural verb "are")—while "commodity" is the object of the verb. Application of that same syntax to another plural noun—plumbers, for example—results in an awkward statement: "Plumbers are the winning softball team." That thought can be expressed more harmoniously—and accurately—by saying, "Plumbers compose the winning softball team" or "plumbers constitute the team" or "plumbers form the team."      Correspondingly, you can avoid the "is/are" dilemma by saying "tomatoes constitute the leading commodity."      Thanks for submitting your question, Gary!      Are you perplexed by some aspect of grammar or word usage? Don't be shy! Ask the "grammar coach" at EditPros and we'll try to help—at no charge, just for the sport of it. NET NOTES: Captivating Internet resources FactCheck.org      If you've ever questioned claims that politicians have made in campaign advertising, debates, speeches, interviews or news releases, you might find this resource illuminating. The Annenberg Political Fact Check Web site was established to help reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics through journalistic and scholarly scrutiny. The site is maintained by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, which conducts research investigating politicians' statements and posts articles that report on the organization's analytical findings. Recalls.gov      This "one-stop shop" for U.S. government recall announcements, established under a directive by President George W. Bush, consolidates alerts issued by six federal agencies that have widely divergent jurisdictions. The site reports on defects in consumer products, motor vehicles, marine vessels, foods, medicines, cosmetics and environmental products, announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Life expectancy calculator      How long will you likely live? This Web site, operated by physician Thomas Perls in partnership with a Washington, D.C., nonprofit organization called the Alliance for Aging Research, will calculate your potential longevity. The site juxtaposes information you enter with statistical probability data. May you live long and prosper. FINDER'S FEE: Recommend a friend—and earn a finder's fee of up to $500      Do you know of a friend or colleague whose office can benefit from EditPros services? If you do, EditPros may reward you with a "finder's fee" of up to $500.           EditPros, established in 1993, performs writing, editing, proofreading and publication management services for newsletters, brochures, Web sites, annual reports, research studies, business proposals and other informational and marketing materials. Our office is in Davis, Calif., between Sacramento and San Francisco.      If you recommend our services to a friend or business colleague, and that introduction leads to an assignment for EditPros, we will award you a "finder's fee" equaling 10 percent of the amount we earn on the first assignment for the new client, up to a maximum finder's fee of $500. Naturally, the finder's fee is applicable only to clients for which we have not worked previously.      This offer will remain in effect until further notice. YOUR TURN: Ask the "grammar coach" or subscribe      We invite you to submit your questions to the "grammar coach," and we welcome you to subscribe to this monthly newsletter—which we'll send to your e-mail address at no charge. We respond to all "grammar coach" questions personally, but delays may occur because we must place top priority on assignments from our clients. We appreciate your patience and your interest.      You also can change your e-mail subscription address. 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