Word Choice

Effective writing involves making conscious word choices. When you prepare to sit down to write your first draft, you likely have already completed some freewriting exercises, chosen your topic, developed your thesis statement, written an outline, and even selected your sources. When it is time to write your first draft, start to consider which words to use to best convey your ideas to the reader.

Using a Dictionary and Thesaurus

Even professional writers need help with the meanings, spellings, pronunciations, and uses of particular words. 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 preceding information you can identify:

While a thesaurus is a valuable tool for expanding your vocabulary, its misuse can lead to unintended consequences.  It is important not to rely too heavily on thesaurus or translation tools.  This may result in the use of words that don’t quite fit the context, leading to awkward and confusing sentences.  Over-reliance on synonyms can also make your writing appear forced and artificial, lacking the natural flow and rhythm that authentic language provides.  It is crucial to understand the subtle nuances of words, as synonyms often carry different connotations or shades of meaning.  Replacing a familiar word with a less common synonym can alienate readers and disrupt understanding.  Misuse of a thesaurus can lead to verbosity, when simple ideas become convoluted with unnecessarily complex language.  In essence, while a thesaurus can be a valuable resource, it’s essential to use it sparingly and in conjunction with a strong grasp of language and context to avoid these potential pitfalls in your writing.

Using Proper Connotations

A denotation is the dictionary definition of a word. A connotation, on the other hand, is the emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word. The connotation of a word can be positive, negative, or neutral. Keep in mind the connotative meaning when choosing a word. Look at the examples below:

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

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 correspondence, such as emails, text messages, and instant messages.

Slang is appropriate between friends in an informal context but should be avoided in formal academic writing.

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 want to go to the gym and punch the bag for a few hours.

Avoiding Overly General Words

Specific words and images make your writing more interesting to read. 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 colour, texture, sound, and even smell to your writing.

• General: My teacher told us that plagiarism is bad.
• Specific: My teacher, Ms. Atwater, created a presentation detailing exactly how plagiarism is illegal and unethical.