Not every be verb needs replacing. The forms of be (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been) work well when you want to link a subject to a noun that clearly renames it or to an adjective that describes it: Orchard House was the home of Louisa May Alcott. The harvest will be bountiful after the summer rains.

Be verbs also are essential as helping verbs before present participles (is flying, are disappearing) to express ongoing action: Derrick was fighting the fire when his wife went into labor. (See G2-f.)

If using a be verb makes a sentence needlessly dull and wordy, however, consider replacing it. Often a phrase following the verb contains a noun or an adjective (such as violation, resistant) that suggests a more vigorous, active verb (violate, resist).

Violate is less wordy and more vigorous than be in violation of.

Resisted is stronger than was resistant to.