You’re staring at a blinking cursor. Your sentence says, "The results are good." It feels flat. It feels like unseasoned chicken. You know there are other words for are that could make that sentence pop, but your brain is stuck in neutral. It happens. "Are" is a linguistic crutch, a "to be" verb that acts like a hollow pipe connecting two ideas. It doesn't do anything. It just sits there.
Honestly, the English language is weirdly obsessed with state-of-being verbs. We use them for everything from describing the weather to explaining complex economic shifts. But when you lean too hard on "are," your writing starts to sound like a middle school textbook. It’s passive. It’s stagnant. If you want people to actually read what you’ve written—especially in a world where attention spans are shorter than a TikTok clip—you’ve gotta swap those weak links for something with actual teeth.
The Problem With Being Too Passive
The word "are" belongs to the family of copular verbs. Their whole job is to link the subject to a predicate. Think of it like a bridge. Bridges are useful, sure, but nobody goes to a bridge just to hang out on the asphalt. They want to get to the other side. When you use other words for are, you aren't just swapping a synonym; you are often changing the entire energy of the sentence from passive observation to active movement.
Linguists often talk about "vivid imagery." You can't get vivid imagery from a verb that literally just means "to exist." If I say, "The protesters are in the street," you get a mental picture, but it’s a photograph. It’s still. If I say, "The protesters occupy the street" or "The protesters throng the pavement," suddenly there’s a movie playing in your head.
Why Your Brain Loves "Are"
It’s easy. It’s the path of least resistance. Our brains are wired for efficiency, and "are" is the ultimate shortcut. You don’t have to think about the action taking place; you just have to identify the state. But good writing—the kind that ranks on Google and keeps people scrolling—requires a bit more sweat.
Finding Better Alternatives for Different Contexts
You can’t just go to a thesaurus and pick a word at random. That’s how you end up looking like you’re trying too hard. If you replace "The cats are on the mat" with "The cats exemplify the mat," you look like a robot. You have to match the vibe.
When you’re describing a location or presence
Instead of saying "The mountains are in the distance," try something that gives the mountains some personality. They tower. They loom. They stretch. Maybe they define the horizon.
When you’re talking about identity or roles
"They are leaders" is fine for a resume, but it’s boring for a bio. Try "They serve as leaders" or "They spearhead the initiative." Even "They embody leadership" carries more weight. It tells us something about how they lead, not just that they have the title.
✨ Don't miss: Finding Real Counts Kustoms Cars for Sale Without Getting Scammed
When you’re dealing with statistics or facts
This is where people get really lazy. "The numbers are higher this year." Boring. Try: "The numbers surpass last year’s totals" or "The data indicates a sharp increase." You’re giving the numbers power.
The "Action Verb" Trick
The best way to find other words for are isn't actually to look for synonyms. It’s to rewrite the sentence so the noun actually does something. This is the secret sauce.
Take this sentence: "The symptoms are indicative of a cold."
It’s clunky. It’s medical-speak.
Now, make the symptoms the actor: "The symptoms suggest a cold."
Better yet: "A cold manifests through these symptoms."
See what happened there? We got rid of the "to be" verb entirely. The sentence became shorter, punchier, and more authoritative. If you’re writing for a business audience, this is how you sound like an expert instead of a consultant who’s charging by the word.
Real-World Examples of the "Are" Swap
Let’s look at some common phrases and how they transform when you ditch the "are."
- Original: Many people are of the opinion that...
- Better: Many people contend that...
- Original: The reasons are unknown.
- Better: The reasons remain a mystery.
- Original: You are in violation of the rules.
- Better: You violated the rules. (Notice how this one gets straight to the point? No fluff.)
Sometimes, "are" is actually the best word. If you’re going for a minimalist, Hemingway-esque style, "to be" verbs can create a sense of stark reality. But you have to use them intentionally. If they’re there because you were too tired to think of a better verb, your reader will feel that fatigue.
Categorizing Your Replacements
If you’re stuck, think about what the "are" is actually trying to say. Usually, it’s doing one of four things:
🔗 Read more: Finding Obituaries in Kalamazoo MI: Where to Look When the News Moves Online
- Representing: Use words like constitute, represent, exemplify, or symbolize.
- Existing: Use words like exist, persist, remain, dwell, or prevail.
- Positioning: Use words like situate, occupy, settle, or stand.
- Acting: This is the big one. Just find the verb hidden in the noun nearby. (e.g., "They are winners" becomes "They won.")
Nuance and the "Fancy Word" Trap
A big mistake people make when looking for other words for are is going too far into the "academic" weeds. You don't want to sound like a Victorian novelist unless you actually are one. Words like "existentialize" or "appertain" will make people close the tab faster than a pop-up ad.
Stay conversational. Use words people actually say. "Stay," "remain," "seem," and "become" are all great alternatives that don't make you sound like you’re trying to win a spelling bee.
The Impact on SEO and Readability
Google’s algorithms, especially with the recent updates in 2025 and 2026, are getting scarily good at identifying "thin" content. Thin content is often characterized by repetitive sentence structures and a heavy reliance on basic verbs like "is," "am," and "are." When you vary your vocabulary, you’re actually signaling to search engines that your content is high-quality and written by a human with actual expertise.
Beyond the bots, think about the "Discover" feed. People click on headlines and stories that feel dynamic. A story titled "Why These Trends Are Important" is less likely to get a click than "Why These Trends Dominate the Market." The verb creates the stakes. It creates the drama.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for Daily Writing
You don’t need to memorize a dictionary. Just keep a few of these in your back pocket for when you realize you’ve used "are" four times in one paragraph.
- Instead of "are" for groups: comprise, consist of, assemble.
- Instead of "are" for feelings: feel, appear, seem.
- Instead of "are" for locations: lie, sit, reside.
- Instead of "are" for qualities: possess, feature, display.
Why "Are" Still Matters (Occasionally)
Let’s be real: sometimes "are" is just the right tool. If you’re trying to be incredibly direct, like in a set of instructions, "You are now ready to begin" is better than "You now possess the readiness to begin." Don't over-engineer it. The goal is clarity, not complexity.
The best writers know when to use the simple stuff and when to bring out the heavy hitters. It’s about rhythm. A long, complex sentence with a strong verb like "illuminates" followed by a short, punchy sentence like "They are wrong" creates a cadence that keeps the reader moving.
💡 You might also like: Finding MAC Cool Toned Lipsticks That Don’t Turn Orange on You
Actionable Steps to Improve Your Prose
Don't just read this and go back to your old habits. Start small.
Open a document you’re currently working on. Use the "Find" function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and search for the word "are." See how many times it pops up. Now, look at each instance and ask yourself: "Does this verb describe a state of being, or could I replace it with an action?"
Try to cut at least 30% of them.
You’ll notice that when you remove "are," you often have to rearrange the whole sentence. This is good. It forces you to think about what you’re actually trying to say. You’ll find that your writing becomes more persuasive, your arguments sharper, and your "voice" much more distinct.
Next time you catch yourself writing "The possibilities are endless," stop. Try "The possibilities sprawl before us" or "We face endless possibilities." It’s a small change, but it’s the difference between being a writer and being someone who just types.
Focus on the verbs. They are the engine of your writing. If the engine is weak, the car isn't going anywhere, no matter how shiny the paint job is. Stop settling for "are" and start choosing words that actually move the needle.
Next Steps for Better Writing:
- Audit your latest draft: Highlight every "is," "am," and "are."
- Identify the "hidden" verb: Look for nouns in those sentences that could be turned into verbs (e.g., "He is a runner" becomes "He runs").
- Check for "to be" overload: If you have more than two "to be" verbs in a single paragraph, rewrite at least one to be an active sentence.
- Read it aloud: If a sentence feels flat or slow, it’s probably because of a weak verb. Swap it out and see how the rhythm changes.