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Word Choice

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24 views

Word Choice

Uploaded by

Mero Eissa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Word Choice

Effective writing involves making conscious choices with words. When


it is time to write your first draft, start to consider which words to use to
best convey your ideas to the reader.
Skilled writers are picky about word choice as they start drafting. They
may practice some specific strategies, such as using a dictionary and
thesaurus, using words and phrases with proper connotations, and
avoiding slang, clichés, and overly general words.
Remember, the skill and accuracy of your word choice is a major factor
in developing your writing style. Precise selection of your words will
help you be more clearly understood—in both writing and speaking.

➔ Using a Dictionary and Thesaurus


Even professional writers need help with the meanings, spellings, pronunciations,
and uses of particular words. In fact, they rely on dictionaries to help them write
better. No one knows every word in the English language and their multiple uses
and meanings, so all writers, from novices to professionals, can benefit from the
use of dictionaries.
Most dictionaries provide the following information:

• Spelling. How the word and its different forms are spelled.
• Pronunciation. How to say the word.
• Part of speech. The function of the word.
• Definition. The meaning of the word.
• Synonyms. Words that have similar meanings.
• Etymology. The history of the word.

Look at the following sample dictionary entry and see which of the following
information you can identify:
◼ A thesaurus is another useful writing tool. A thesaurus gives you a list of
synonyms, words that have nearly the same meaning as another word. It also
lists antonyms, words with the opposite meaning of the word. A thesaurus will
help you when you are looking for the perfect word with just the right meaning
to convey your ideas. It will also help you learn more words and use the ones
you already know more correctly.

precocious adj, She’s such a precocious little girl!: uncommonly


smart, mature, advanced, smart, bright, brilliant, gifted, quick,
clever, apt.

Ant. slow, backward, stupid.

◼ Dictionaries of collocations explain that many words are part of “collocations,”


phrases that have become convention through repetition. They are “words that go with
other words” simply because the language has developed that way. Encourage students
to use a collocation dictionary in the following situations:
1) When they need to use the same word in multiple ways throughout a paper
2) When they are unsure of how to modify a word (adjectives/adverbs)
3) When they do not know which preposition to use
4) When they want to use a new word but are unsure how
5) When they receive professor feedback in the form of “?,” “awkward,” or “maybe [a
suggestion] instead,” etc.

➔ Using Proper Connotations


A denotation is the surface-level definition of a word. For example, the
words house and home have the same denotation: they are both dwellings.

A connotation, on the other hand, is the emotional or cultural meaning attached to


a word. For house and home, the connotations are different: house feels rather
neutral, but home feels warm and positive. At Halloween, you wouldn’t attend a
“haunted home,” and you don’t feel the longing of being “housesick”–these feel
wrong because they ignore connotations. Instead, you go to a “haunted house,” and
you feel “homesick.” The connotation of a word can be positive, negative, neutral,
or otherwise. Stay continuously aware of the connotations of the words you
choose. And when uncertain about a word’s connotations, find the word used in
professional articles or books, and study its implications carefully.

Scrawny

• Denotation: Exceptionally thin and slight or meager in body


or size.
• Word used in a sentence: Although he was a premature
baby and a scrawny child, Martin has developed into a
strong man.
• Connotation: (Negative) In this sentence the
word scrawny may have a negative connotation in the
readers’ minds. They might find it to mean a weakness or a
personal flaw; however, the word fits into the sentence
appropriately.

Slim

• Denotation: Thin in an attractive way.


• Word used in a sentence: Magazines are always full of
advice on how to stay slim.
• Connotation: (Positive) Based on cultural and personal
impressions of what it means to be slim, the reader may
have positive connotations of the word slim.

Lean

• Denotation: Lacking or deficient in flesh; containing little or


no fat.
• Word used in a sentence: My brother has a lean figure,
whereas I have a more muscular build.
• Connotation: (Neutral) In this sentence, lean has a neutral
connotation. It does not call to mind an overly skinny person
like the word scrawny, nor does imply the positive cultural
impressions of the word slim. It is merely a neutral
descriptive word.

Notice that all the words have a very similar denotation; however, the connotations
of each word differ.

Exercise 1

In each of the following items, you will find words with similar
denotations. Identify the words’ connotations as positive,
negative, or neutral.

1. curious, nosy, interested


2. lazy, relaxed, slow
3. courageous, foolhardy, assured
4. new, newfangled, modern
5. mansion, shack, residence
6. spinster, unmarried woman, career woman
7. giggle, laugh, cackle
8. boring, routine, prosaic
9. noted, notorious, famous
10. assertive, confident, pushy
➔ Avoiding Slang
Slang describes informal words that are considered nonstandard English. Slang
often changes with passing fads and may be used by or familiar to only a specific
group of people. Most people use slang when they speak and in personal
correspondences, such as e-mails, text messages, and instant messages. Slang is
appropriate between friends in an informal context but should be avoided in formal
academic writing. Frequent exposure to media and popular culture has made us
less sensitive to slang.

Exercise 2

Edit the following paragraph by replacing the slang words and


phrases with more formal language.
I felt like such an airhead when I got up to give my speech. As I
walked toward the podium, I banged my knee on a chair. Man, I
felt like such a klutz. On top of that, I kept saying “like” and “um,”
and I could not stop fidgeting. I was so stressed out about being
up there. I feel like I’ve been practicing this speech 24/7, and I still
bombed. It was ten minutes of me going off about how we
sometimes have to do things we don’t enjoy doing. Wow, did I
ever prove my point. My speech was so bad I’m surprised that
people didn’t boo. My teacher said not to sweat it, though.
Everyone gets nervous his or her first time speaking in public, and
she said with time I would become a whiz at this speech giving
stuff. I wonder if I have the guts to do it again.

➔ Avoiding Clichés
Clichés are descriptive expressions that have lost their effectiveness because they
are overused. Writing that uses clichés often suffers from a lack of originality and
insight. Avoiding clichés in formal writing will help you write in original and fresh
ways.
• Clichéd: Whenever my brother and I get into an argument,
he always says something that makes my blood boil.
• Plain: Whenever my brother and I get into an argument, he
always says something that makes me really angry.
• Original: Whenever my brother and I get into an argument,
he always says something that makes me clinch my fists so
hard that I leave fingernail dents in my palms.

Exercise 3

Revise the following sentences by replacing the clichés with fresh,


original descriptions.

1. She is writing a memoir in which she will air her family’s dirty
laundry.
2. Fran had an axe to grind with Benny, and she planned to
confront him that night at the party.
3. Mr. Muller was at his wit’s end with the rowdy class of
seventh graders.
4. The bottom line is that Greg was fired because he missed
too many days of work.
5. Sometimes it is hard to make ends meet with just one
paycheck.
6. I always try to give 110%
7. Maria left the dishes in the sink all week to give Jeff a taste
of his own medicine.
8. Time sure does fly when you are having fun.
9. Jeremy became tongue-tied after the interviewer asked
him where he saw himself in five years.
10. Jordan was so pressed with responsibilities that he felt like
he carried the world on his shoulders.

➔ Avoiding Overly General Words


Specific words and images make your writing clearer, more precise, and often
more interesting. Whenever possible, avoid overly general words in your writing;
instead, try to replace general language with particular nouns, verbs, and modifiers
that convey details and that bring yours words to life. Add words that provide
color, texture, sound, and even smell to your writing.

• General: My new puppy is cute.


• Specific: My new puppy is a ball of white fuzz with the
biggest black eyes I have ever seen.

• General: My teacher told us that lying is bad.


• Specific: My teacher, Ms. Atwater, created a presentation
detailing exactly how lying is immoral and dangerous.

Exercise 4

Revise the following sentences by replacing the overly general


words with more precise and attractive language.

1. Reilly got into her car and drove off.


2. I would like to travel to outer space because it would be
amazing.
3. Jane came home after a bad day at the office.
4. I thought Milo’s essay was fascinating.
5. The dog walked up the street.
6. The coal miners were tired after a long day.
7. The tropical fish are pretty.
8. I sweat a lot after running.
9. The goalie blocked the shot.
10. I enjoyed my Mexican meal.

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