Table of Contents
Quick Answer
The fastest way to upgrade your resume.
If you want your resume to stand out to hiring managers, you must eliminate weak, passive phrases like "Wrote copy" and "Responsible for writing".
Instead, use powerful, writing-specific action verbs like Authored, Edited, Synthesized, and Persuaded. These words show precision, strategy, and impact. Below, you'll find 150+ action verbs categorized by written communication domains, along with 50 real-world resume bullet point examples you can copy today.
Word Profile
What Hiring Managers Look for in Resume Language.
| Target Role | Copywriter / PR Specialist / Technical Writer / Content Marketer |
| Key Competencies | Copywriting, Editing, Storytelling, SEO, Messaging Strategy, Proofreading |
| Weak Verbs to Avoid | Wrote, Helped, Did, Was responsible for, Typed, Made |
| Ideal Verb Tense | Past tense for previous jobs; Present tense for current role. |
| ATS Optimization | High Impact |
Why Replace Weak Verbs?
The problem with passive language on a resume.
Writers are hired to drive engagement and clarity. When you use phrases like "Was responsible for writing articles," you are describing a task, not your impact. Hiring managers want to know what your words achieved. Action verbs prove you are a creator, not a typist.
The Passive Trap
"Wrote blog posts for the company website."
This tells the recruiter what you produced, but not if anyone read it or if it generated value.
The Active Fix
"Authored 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts, driving a 30% increase in organic traffic."
This shows ownership, strategic action, and a quantified positive outcome.
Word Grid
A complete visual directory of action verbs. Click any word to explore its definition.
Drafting & Content Creation
Editing & Refining
Strategy & Messaging
Technical & Compliance
Publishing & Distribution
Persuasion & Copywriting
Drafting & Content Creation Verbs
When you need to show that you can build compelling narratives and generate high-quality written materials.
Authored
Wrote an original piece of content, implying significant intellectual contribution.
- Authored a 50-page whitepaper on cybersecurity trends, generating 500 new B2B leads.
- Authored 4 SEO-optimized blog posts weekly, increasing organic traffic by 25%.
- Authored the official company style guide, standardizing tone across all 5 departments.
Composed
Created written music, text, or communications by combining elements.
- Composed targeted email marketing campaigns that achieved a 35% open rate.
- Composed executive speeches for the annual shareholder meeting, aligning messaging with corporate strategy.
- Composed detailed project briefs for the creative team, reducing revision cycles by 20%.
Crafted
Wrote with careful attention to detail and skill.
- Crafted engaging social media copy that grew the Instagram following by 15,000 users in 6 months.
- Crafted personalized outreach emails to VIP clients, securing 10 new enterprise meetings.
- Crafted compelling product descriptions for 200+ e-commerce SKUs, boosting conversion rates by 12%.
Generated
Produced large volumes of text or ideas.
- Generated 50+ monthly landing page variations for A/B testing, improving lead capture by 40%.
- Generated weekly press releases distributed to 100+ media outlets.
- Generated creative concepts for the quarterly editorial calendar, aligning with marketing objectives.
Synthesized
Combined complex information from multiple sources into a single, coherent document.
- Synthesized 10 hours of client interviews into a comprehensive 20-page brand manifesto.
- Synthesized technical API documentation into a user-friendly developer portal.
- Synthesized quarterly market research reports into a 2-page executive summary for the board.
Articulated
Expressed complex ideas clearly and effectively in writing.
- Articulated the company’s value proposition in a new pitch deck, helping sales close $1.5M in deals.
- Articulated complex legal terms into plain English for the customer help center.
- Articulated the brand's new sustainability initiative in a public-facing press release.
Translated
Converted technical or complex jargon into easily understandable language.
- Translated dense engineering specifications into a compelling sales enablement brochure.
- Translated corporate financial statements into an engaging newsletter for retail investors.
- Translated user feedback into actionable product requirement documents (PRDs) for the dev team.
Compiled
Assembled written information into a single volume or document.
- Compiled the 300-page annual regulatory report, ensuring 100% compliance with FDA standards.
- Compiled customer reviews and testimonials into a powerful case study library for the sales team.
- Compiled a comprehensive directory of freelance writers, streamlining the onboarding process.
Scripted
Wrote the text for spoken performance, video, or audio.
- Scripted 20+ promotional YouTube videos, accumulating 1 million total views.
- Scripted the interactive voice response (IVR) system for the customer support hotline, reducing call transfers by 15%.
- Scripted a 6-episode branded podcast, increasing audience retention by 25% per episode.
Documented
Recorded information in writing for official reference.
- Documented the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the entire customer success team.
- Documented software bugs and feature requests in Jira for the engineering department.
- Documented the historical timeline of the company for the 50th-anniversary celebration campaign.
Strategy & Messaging Verbs
Proving you can plan communication strategies, position brands, and guide narratives.
Strategized
Designed the overarching plan for a communication campaign.
- Strategized the PR response to a major product recall, mitigating negative press coverage.
- Strategized the content calendar for the Q4 product launch, aligning with SEO targets.
- Strategized an internal communication plan to manage the company merger announcement.
Formulated
Created a strategy, plan, or core message.
- Formulated the brand's tone of voice guidelines, ensuring consistency across all marketing channels.
- Formulated a crisis communication protocol for the PR department.
- Formulated the messaging house for the new enterprise software product line.
Pitched
Presented ideas or written proposals to secure buy-in or funding.
- Pitched 50+ story angles to tech journalists, securing 15 features in top-tier publications.
- Pitched a new content marketing strategy to the executive board, securing a $100k budget increase.
- Pitched creative ad copy concepts to the client, winning a 2-year retainer contract.
Positioned
Defined how a brand or product should be perceived in writing.
- Positioned the startup as a thought leader in the AI space by publishing 10 op-eds in Forbes.
- Positioned the new eco-friendly product line in the marketing copy to appeal to Gen Z consumers.
- Positioned the company’s response to industry legislation in a clear, authoritative press release.
Targeted
Tailored written messaging to a specific demographic.
- Targeted high-net-worth investors with personalized direct mail copy, raising $5M in capital.
- Targeted inactive users with a re-engagement email campaign, recovering 5,000 lost accounts.
- Targeted local SEO keywords in 30+ neighborhood landing pages, increasing foot traffic by 20%.
Directed
Managed the overall direction of a publication or content team.
- Directed the editorial vision for a 50-person online newsroom.
- Directed the copywriting team during the massive website overhaul, ensuring brand voice consistency.
- Directed the production of the quarterly print magazine, managing 20+ freelance contributors.
Orchestrated
Coordinated complex written projects across multiple departments.
- Orchestrated the simultaneous launch of 10 localized website translations across global markets.
- Orchestrated the annual report creation, gathering financial data from 5 different subsidiaries.
- Orchestrated a company-wide internal newsletter, keeping 2,000 employees informed on policy changes.
Brainstormed
Generated collaborative ideas for written content.
- Brainstormed 100+ headline variations for the viral marketing campaign, ultimately finding a winner with a 10% CTR.
- Brainstormed thematic angles for the upcoming holiday gift guide.
- Brainstormed with the design team to align blog topics with visual assets.
Aligned
Ensured all written messaging supported the same corporate goal.
- Aligned all website copy with the new corporate sustainability initiative.
- Aligned the PR team's press releases with the legal department's compliance requirements.
- Aligned the external marketing copy with the internal sales scripts to ensure a unified buyer journey.
Championed
Advocated for a specific writing standard or style.
- Championed the adoption of plain language principles across the legal department.
- Championed the shift to a more conversational brand voice on social media.
- Championed the use of data-driven headlines in the editorial team.
Editing & Refining Verbs
Demonstrating your ability to polish, clarify, and perfect rough drafts into final copy.
Edited
Revised content for grammar, flow, and overall quality.
- Edited 30+ technical articles per month, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
- Edited the 500-page employee handbook, removing outdated policies and improving readability.
- Edited copy generated by junior writers, ensuring it met the client's strict brand guidelines.
Refined
Improved the clarity and impact of existing text.
- Refined the homepage hero copy, increasing the click-through rate to the pricing page by 15%.
- Refined the executive summary of the business plan, helping the startup secure $2M in seed funding.
- Refined technical jargon in the user manuals, reducing customer support tickets by 10%.
Polished
Gave a final, perfect review to written materials.
- Polished the CEO's presentation script for the TEDx talk, ensuring a flawless delivery.
- Polished the final layout and copy of the annual magazine before sending it to print.
- Polished the UI microcopy in the mobile app, improving user onboarding completion by 25%.
Proofread
Checked written text for typos and grammatical errors.
- Proofread 100+ real estate listings daily, preventing embarrassing factual errors.
- Proofread the 200-page legal contract before client sign-off, catching a critical numerical typo.
- Proofread all outbound email campaigns, ensuring 100% deliverability and brand trust.
Condensed
Reduced the length of text while retaining the core message.
- Condensed a 40-page technical manual into a 2-page quick-start guide for end-users.
- Condensed 5 hours of meeting notes into actionable bullet points distributed to the team.
- Condensed verbose website copy, improving mobile reading time by 30 seconds per page.
Summarized
Provided a brief statement of the main points of a text.
- Summarized 50 industry news articles into a daily 1-page executive brief.
- Summarized complex legal depositions into 3-page abstracts for the senior partners.
- Summarized quarterly financial earnings calls into digestible blog posts for retail investors.
Redlined
Marked up a document with corrections and changes.
- Redlined vendor contracts, protecting the company from $50k in potential liability.
- Redlined proposed legislation for the government affairs team, suggesting amending language.
- Redlined draft press releases, ensuring strict adherence to AP style.
Repurposed
Adapted existing written content for a new format.
- Repurposed 20 long-form blog posts into 100 social media posts, saving 40 hours of copywriting time.
- Repurposed a webinar transcript into an ebook, generating 300 new leads.
- Repurposed internal training materials into an external customer academy.
Streamlined
Made the writing or editing process more efficient.
- Streamlined the editorial approval process from 5 steps to 3, cutting publication time by 2 days.
- Streamlined the email drafting process using templates, increasing team output by 20%.
- Streamlined the vendor invoicing descriptions, making them readable for the finance department.
Overhauled
Completely renovated a body of written content.
- Overhauled the outdated website copy, aligning it with the modern brand identity.
- Overhauled the company's 5-year-old FAQ section, reducing support calls by 15%.
- Overhauled the franchise operations manual, standardizing procedures across 50 locations.
Technical & Compliance Verbs
Showing you can simplify complex information and ensure regulatory accuracy.
Clarified
Made confusing text easier to understand.
- Clarified the legal terms of service, reducing customer confusion and legal escalations.
- Clarified the pricing matrix in the sales proposal, accelerating the deal close rate by 10%.
- Clarified the technical requirements in the RFP, ensuring vendors submitted accurate bids.
Simplified
Removed jargon to make text accessible to a wider audience.
- Simplified complex medical trial data into a public-facing infographic and press release.
- Simplified the 10-step warranty claim process into a simple 3-step guide for customers.
- Simplified the investment risk disclosures without violating SEC compliance rules.
Verified
Checked the factual accuracy of written claims.
- Verified all statistics and quotes in the annual report against primary sources.
- Verified the technical specifications in the product brochure before the trade show launch.
- Verified the regulatory compliance of the new pharmaceutical packaging copy.
Reviewed
Examined written text for errors or compliance.
- Reviewed 100+ press releases annually to ensure brand voice consistency.
- Reviewed advertising copy to ensure compliance with FTC guidelines.
- Reviewed technical documentation for the API release, catching 5 critical inaccuracies.
Codified
Arranged written laws or rules into a systematic code.
- Codified the company's disparate style guidelines into a single, unified brand book.
- Codified the legal precedent for the firm's class-action lawsuits into a searchable database.
- Codified the HR policies into a comprehensive digital handbook.
Ensured
Made certain that written content met legal or quality standards.
- Ensured 100% compliance with HIPAA regulations in all patient communication materials.
- Ensured all marketing copy passed through the legal review process before publication.
- Ensured the accuracy of the translated safety warnings on the packaging.
Researched
Investigated information to write accurate content.
- Researched 20+ peer-reviewed journals to write a comprehensive medical device whitepaper.
- Researched competitor pricing and features to formulate the competitive battlecard scripts.
- Researched historical archives to accurately document the company's 100-year history.
Analyzed
Examined data to inform written strategies.
- Analyzed website analytics to determine the most engaging blog topics, increasing time-on-page by 2 minutes.
- Analyzed keyword search volume to write highly targeted SEO meta descriptions.
- Analyzed user feedback surveys to rewrite the confusing parts of the app interface.
Distilled
Extracted the most important information from a large text.
- Distilled 500 pages of court transcripts into a 5-page executive summary for the managing partner.
- Distilled complex market research data into 3 actionable copy points for the ad campaign.
- Distilled the 50-page corporate strategy into a memorable mission statement for employees.
Standardized
Made written processes uniform across an organization.
- Standardized the naming conventions and descriptions for all 1,000 e-commerce products.
- Standardized the email signature format for 500 corporate employees.
- Standardized the response templates used by the customer support team.
Publishing & Distribution Verbs
Proving you can disseminate information effectively and manage publication timelines.
Published
Prepared and issued written content for the public.
- Published 3 high-quality articles per week on the company blog.
- Published a 300-page historical non-fiction book through a top 5 publishing house.
- Published 10 op-eds in regional newspapers, establishing the CEO as a thought leader.
Launched
Set a written campaign or publication in motion.
- Launched a weekly email newsletter that grew to 10,000 subscribers in 3 months.
- Launched the new digital magazine platform, featuring 50+ original articles at go-live.
- Launched a global PR campaign distributing press releases to 20 countries simultaneously.
Distributed
Shared written content to a wide audience.
- Distributed the quarterly investor report to 5,000 shareholders via a secure portal.
- Distributed the new brand guidelines to 15 international marketing agencies.
- Distributed press kits to 100+ journalists at the annual tech conference.
Disseminated
Broadcast written information widely.
- Disseminated critical safety policy changes to all 2,000 factory workers.
- Disseminated the Q3 marketing goals to the cross-functional team via a detailed memo.
- Disseminated the crisis communication script to all regional PR managers within 1 hour.
Circulated
Passed written documents among a specific group.
- Circulated the draft bylaws to the board of directors for review before the vote.
- Circulated the monthly performance dashboard to the executive team.
- Circulated the agenda and meeting minutes to all department heads.
Released
Made written information available to the public.
- Released the official statement regarding the acquisition to the press.
- Released the 10-K annual financial report on schedule.
- Released the new software documentation alongside the v2.0 product launch.
Syndicated
Published written content simultaneously across multiple platforms.
- Syndicated the weekly blog post to Medium, LinkedIn, and industry forums, tripling reach.
- Syndicated the daily market report to 5 different financial news outlets.
- Syndicated the video script library to partner YouTube channels.
Briefed
Informed individuals via written or summarized documents.
- Briefed the executive team on competitor movements via a weekly intelligence memo.
- Briefed the sales team on the new product features through a detailed spec sheet.
- Briefed external PR agencies on the brand voice guidelines before the campaign launch.
Scheduled
Planned the timeline for written content publication.
- Scheduled 30 social media posts per week using Hootsuite, ensuring consistent brand presence.
- Scheduled the email drip campaign to trigger based on user behavior.
- Scheduled the release of the 4-part case study series across the Q1 calendar.
Moderated
Managed written discussions or content submissions.
- Moderated the company's online community forum, reviewing 100+ user posts daily.
- Moderated the comments section on the blog, filtering out spam and toxic behavior.
- Moderated the submission process for the annual industry writing awards.
50 Resume Bullet Point Examples
Real-world examples of how to use these verbs on your resume.
Copywriting & Marketing
- Authored 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts, driving a 30% increase in organic traffic.
- Crafted engaging social media copy that grew the Instagram following by 15,000 users in 6 months.
- Generated 50+ monthly landing page variations for A/B testing, improving lead capture by 40%.
- Composed targeted email marketing campaigns that achieved a 35% open rate.
- Refined the homepage hero copy, increasing the click-through rate to the pricing page by 15%.
- Pitched 50+ story angles to tech journalists, securing 15 features in top-tier publications.
- Targeted inactive users with a re-engagement email campaign, recovering 5,000 lost accounts.
- Syndicated the weekly blog post to Medium, LinkedIn, and industry forums, tripling reach.
- Persuaded 1,000+ subscribers to upgrade to the premium tier through a targeted email drip campaign.
- Repurposed 20 long-form blog posts into 100 social media posts, saving 40 hours of copywriting time.
Technical Writing & Documentation
- Authored a 50-page whitepaper on cybersecurity trends, generating 500 new B2B leads.
- Documented the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the entire customer success team.
- Translated dense engineering specifications into a compelling sales enablement brochure.
- Clarified the legal terms of service, reducing customer confusion and legal escalations.
- Simplified complex medical trial data into a public-facing infographic and press release.
- Synthesized technical API documentation into a user-friendly developer portal.
- Edited the 500-page employee handbook, removing outdated policies and improving readability.
- Verified the technical specifications in the product brochure before the trade show launch.
- Codified the company's disparate style guidelines into a single, unified brand book.
- Overhauled the outdated website copy, aligning it with the modern brand identity.
PR & Corporate Communications
- Composed executive speeches for the annual shareholder meeting, aligning messaging with corporate strategy.
- Strategized the PR response to a major product recall, mitigating negative press coverage.
- Positioned the startup as a thought leader in the AI space by publishing 10 op-eds in Forbes.
- Released the official statement regarding the acquisition to the press.
- Distributed press kits to 100+ journalists at the annual tech conference.
- Briefed the executive team on competitor movements via a weekly intelligence memo.
- Orchestrated a company-wide internal newsletter, keeping 2,000 employees informed on policy changes.
- Aligned all website copy with the new corporate sustainability initiative.
- Disseminated the crisis communication script to all regional PR managers within 1 hour.
- Championed the adoption of plain language principles across the legal department.
Grant Writing & Fundraising
- Authored 10 federal grant proposals, securing $2.5M in funding for community outreach programs.
- Crafted compelling narratives for the annual fundraising appeal, exceeding the goal by 20%.
- Synthesized 10 hours of client interviews into a comprehensive 20-page brand manifesto.
- Compiled the 300-page annual regulatory report, ensuring 100% compliance with FDA standards.
- Refined the executive summary of the business plan, helping the startup secure $2M in seed funding.
- Researched 20+ peer-reviewed journals to write a comprehensive medical device whitepaper.
- Distilled 500 pages of court transcripts into a 5-page executive summary for the managing partner.
- Pitched a new content marketing strategy to the executive board, securing a $100k budget increase.
- Targeted high-net-worth investors with personalized direct mail copy, raising $5M in capital.
- Summarized complex legal depositions into 3-page abstracts for the senior partners.
Editing & Content Strategy
- Edited 30+ technical articles per month, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
- Proofread the 200-page legal contract before client sign-off, catching a critical numerical typo.
- Condensed a 40-page technical manual into a 2-page quick-start guide for end-users.
- Redlined vendor contracts, protecting the company from $50k in potential liability.
- Streamlined the editorial approval process from 5 steps to 3, cutting publication time by 2 days.
- Standardized the naming conventions and descriptions for all 1,000 e-commerce products.
- Analyzed website analytics to determine the most engaging blog topics, increasing time-on-page by 2 minutes.
- Reviewed 100+ press releases annually to ensure brand voice consistency.
- Polished the UI microcopy in the mobile app, improving user onboarding completion by 25%.
- Revamped the 5-year-old FAQ section, reducing support calls by 15%.
ATS Optimization Tips
How to ensure your action verbs actually reach human eyes.
Use Standard Section Headings
Don't get creative with titles like "My Writing Journey" or "Content History." Stick to "Experience," "Education," and "Skills" so the ATS knows where to find your action verbs.
Avoid Tables and Columns
ATS software reads left-to-right, top-to-bottom. If you put your action verbs or writing portfolio links in a side column or a table, the ATS might read them out of order or skip them entirely. Use a single-column layout.
Pair Verbs with Exact Keywords
Action verbs are great, but ATS looks for nouns too. Pair them: "Authored SEO-optimized blog posts using WordPress" is stronger than just "Authored blog posts."
Save as a PDF or DOCX
Unless the application specifically asked for Word, save as a PDF to lock in your formatting. Ensure the PDF is text-based, not a scanned image, so the ATS can read your verbs.
Professional Writing Tips
How to frame your bullet points for maximum impact.
Drop the Pronouns
Resumes use "implied first-person." Never use "I," "my," or "we." Start directly with the action verb.
❌ I wrote 50 blog posts for the company website.
✅ Authored 50 blog posts for the company website.
Use the XYZ Formula
Google famously recommends this formula for resumes: "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]." Put your action verb at the very beginning of [Z].
✅ Increased organic traffic by 30% (X), measured by Google Analytics (Y), by authoring 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts (Z).
Keep Tense Consistent
If you are describing a past job, every bullet point should start with a past-tense verb (Authored, Edited, Pitched). For your current job, use present tense for ongoing duties (Author, Edit, Pitch) and past tense for completed campaigns.
❌ Write the weekly newsletter. Edited the annual report.
✅ Write the weekly newsletter. Edited the annual report.
Don't Overinflate
Be honest about your role. If you just fixed typos, don't say you "Overhauled" the document. Use accurate verbs like "Proofread" or "Edited." Hiring managers will dig into your claims during the interview.
LinkedIn Profile Examples
How to translate these verbs to your LinkedIn profile.
1. The LinkedIn Headline
Don't just write "Writer." Use action-oriented language to show what you do and the value you bring.
Weak Headline:
Copywriter at TechCorp
Strong Headlines:
Senior Copywriter | Crafting High-Converting Campaigns | Optimizing Brand Voice
Technical Writer Translating Complex Specs & Simplifying User Docs
2. The "About" Section
Write in the first person here. Weave your action verbs into a narrative about your writing philosophy.
"I am a Content Strategist specializing in B2B SaaS. Over the past 6 years, I have authored over 300 SEO-driven articles and orchestrated 4 major product launch campaigns. My core strength is synthesizing complex technical concepts into engaging copy that converts, ensuring I consistently drive a 20% year-over-year increase in organic traffic..."
3. The Experience Section
You can copy your resume bullet points directly here, but you don't need to be as strict about omitting "I". Still, starting with an action verb looks cleaner.
• Authored 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts, driving a 30% increase in organic traffic.
• Refined the homepage hero copy, increasing the click-through rate to the pricing page by 15%.
• Edited 30+ technical articles per month, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
Common Resume Mistakes
Avoid these frequent pitfalls when writing your resume.
Responsible for writing the company blog.
✓ Authored 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts, driving a 30% increase in organic traffic.
Explanation: "Responsible for" is passive and describes a duty, not an achievement. Use strong action verbs to show what you actually did.
Tip: Highlight the outcome, not just the job description.
Helped with the marketing emails.
✓ Composed targeted email marketing campaigns that achieved a 35% open rate.
Explanation: "Helped" is a weak verb that diminishes your contribution. It leaves hiring managers wondering how much you actually wrote.
Tip: Use words like Composed, Authored, or Crafted.
Worked on making the website copy better.
✓ Refined the homepage hero copy, increasing the click-through rate to the pricing page by 15%.
Explanation: "Worked on" is vague and lacks metrics. It doesn't tell the recruiter if you succeeded or failed.
Tip: Always attach a quantifiable metric to your action verb.
Was tasked with writing the annual report.
✓ Compiled the 300-page annual regulatory report, ensuring 100% compliance with FDA standards.
Explanation: "Was tasked with" sounds like you were forced to do it. It lacks ownership and leadership.
Tip: Use authoritative verbs like Compiled, Authored, or Generated.
Wrote stuff that made people buy things.
✓ Crafted compelling product descriptions for 200+ e-commerce SKUs, boosting conversion rates by 12%.
Explanation: "Wrote stuff" is unprofessional and unquantified. Use precise business language and exact numbers.
Tip: Use terms like Crafted, Authored, or Generated.
Assisted the PR team with press releases.
✓ Drafted and distributed 15 press releases, securing features in 3 top-tier tech publications.
Explanation: "Assisted" makes you sound like an observer rather than a writer. Even if you were junior, own your specific contribution.
Tip: Use Drafted, Composed, or Pitched.
Did editing for the technical team.
✓ Edited and proofread 30+ technical articles per month, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
Explanation: "Did" is the weakest verb in the English language. It tells the reader nothing about your editorial methodology.
Tip: Use Edited, Refined, or Proofread.
Handled the company newsletter.
✓ Launched and authored a weekly email newsletter that grew to 10,000 subscribers in 3 months.
Explanation: "Handled" is overly casual for a writing resume. It fails to show strategic communication skills.
Tip: Use Launched, Authored, or Orchestrated.
Put together a new style guide.
✓ Codified the company's disparate style guidelines into a single, unified brand book.
Explanation: "Put together" is a colloquial phrasal verb. Resumes require formal, professional terminology.
Tip: Use Codified, Standardized, or Compiled.
Oversaw the blog and made sure it was good.
✓ Directed the editorial vision for a 50-person online newsroom, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
Explanation: "Made sure it was good" is subjective and immeasurable. Use specific quality metrics and formal verbs.
Tip: Use Directed, Managed, or Standardized.
Correct vs. Incorrect Examples
Before and after resume bullet points.
Weak / Passive
Responsible for writing website copy.
Strong / Active
Authored 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts, driving a 30% increase in organic traffic.
Weak / Passive
Worked with the team to write the manual.
Strong / Active
Synthesized technical API documentation into a user-friendly developer portal.
Weak / Passive
Helped the executives with their speeches.
Strong / Active
Composed executive speeches for the annual shareholder meeting, aligning messaging with corporate strategy.
Weak / Passive
In charge of the company newsletter.
Strong / Active
Launched and authored a weekly email newsletter that grew to 10,000 subscribers in 3 months.
Weak / Passive
Talked to the PR team about the press release.
Strong / Active
Pitched 50+ story angles to tech journalists, securing 15 features in top-tier publications.
Weak / Passive
Made the blog posts shorter and easier to read.
Strong / Active
Condensed a 40-page technical manual into a 2-page quick-start guide for end-users.
Weak / Passive
Looked after the legal contracts.
Strong / Active
Redlined vendor contracts, protecting the company from $50k in potential liability.
Weak / Passive
Changed the website text because it was old.
Strong / Active
Overhauled the outdated website copy, aligning it with the modern brand identity.
Weak / Passive
Dealt with a lot of technical jargon.
Strong / Active
Translated dense engineering specifications into a compelling sales enablement brochure.
Weak / Passive
Did editing for the magazine.
Strong / Active
Edited and proofread 30+ technical articles per month, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
🎮 Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these interactive questions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions.
Why are action verbs so important on a writing resume?
Action verbs demonstrate creation and impact. As a writer, you are the driver of the narrative. Passive phrases like 'was responsible for writing' make you sound like a typist. Verbs like 'Authored' or 'Crafted' show you take charge and deliver results.
Should I use the same action verb multiple times on my resume?
It's best to avoid repeating the same verb in close proximity. If you used 'Authored' in one bullet point, use 'Composed' or 'Crafted' in the next. Variety keeps the reader engaged and shows off a broader vocabulary.
What tense should action verbs be in?
For past jobs, use the past tense (e.g., Authored, Edited, Pitched). For your current job, use the present tense for ongoing duties (e.g., Author, Edit, Pitch) and past tense for completed campaigns within that role.
How many action verbs should I use per bullet point?
Typically, one strong action verb per bullet point. The formula is: [Action Verb] + [Written Asset] + [Metric/Result]. For example: 'Authored 50+ blog posts that increased organic traffic by 30%.'
Will using these action verbs help me get past ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)?
Yes. ATS software scans resumes for specific keywords. While it mainly looks for job titles and hard skills (like 'SEO' or 'WordPress'), using strong writing action verbs alongside those skills ensures your resume reads as a highly relevant match for writing roles.
Is it okay to use 'Wrote' on a writing resume?
Yes, but it is very common and generic. 'Wrote' is a bit basic. It's better to use more descriptive verbs like 'Authored,' 'Composed,' or 'Crafted' to stand out from the hundreds of other resumes that just say 'Wrote.'
What if I wasn't the lead writer, but just edited the document? Can I still use strong verbs?
Absolutely. Use verbs like 'Edited,' 'Refined,' 'Proofread,' or 'Redlined' to accurately describe your specific contribution to the text without overstating your role.
Should I include metrics and numbers with my action verbs?
Yes. An action verb without a metric is just a claim. 'Authored blog posts' is okay. 'Authored 50+ SEO-optimized blog posts, driving a 30% increase in organic traffic' is a proven achievement. Always try to quantify your impact.
What is the difference between a weak verb and a strong verb?
A weak verb describes a state of being or a passive duty (e.g., 'was,' 'had,' 'helped,' 'worked'). A strong verb shows a specific, decisive action that resulted in a change (e.g., 'Synthesized,' 'Edited,' 'Persuaded')
Can I use these action verbs in my LinkedIn profile?
Yes, your LinkedIn profile is an extension of your resume. Using these strong writing action verbs in your LinkedIn 'Experience' section will make your profile more attractive to recruiters searching for content and copywriting talent.
Quick Reference
A cheat sheet for your resume writing.
Formula: [Action Verb] + [Written Asset] + [Metric/Result]
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