Why can't I use STILT as verb in this sense?

I had hitherto assumed that one could easily switch from an adjective to a verb and vice-versa, considering many adjectives (participle adjectives) are formed from verbs. But it seems that there is no such freedom to be always enjoyed.

For example, while it is fine to write either

This task is really tiring.

Or

This task really tires you.

It isn't correct to write

Strict adherence to the rules of grammar sometimes stilts your prose.

I have to recast the sentence instead as

Strict adherence to the rules of grammar sometimes makes your prose stilted.

Why is this the case and is there a way to know where such switching between verb and adjective forms isn't allowed, without having to check the dictionary?


To answer your first question, you can -- as the commenters have pointed out -- but it's not common usage and you will get various complaints and/or weird looks.

To answer your second question, there is no way to know in advance. You have to check the dictionary. I don't have any sources for this because it's a fundamental feature or bug of the English language -- it's not uniformly governed by rules, but rather rules that work some or most of the time and a sea of particulars that you just learn over time.