108 Words and Language
Language Varieties
Word Choice
Effective writing involves making conscious choices with words. 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.
Some 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.
Once you understand these tricks of the trade, you can move ahead confidently in writing your assignment. 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 preceding information you can identify:
Like a dictionary, a thesaurus is another indispensable writing tool. A thesaurus gives you a list of synonyms, words that have the same (or very close to 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.
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.
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.
Skinny
Denotation: Lacking sufficient flesh, very thin.
Word used in a sentence: Skinny jeans have become very fashionable in the past couple of years.
Connotation: (Positive) Based on cultural and personal impressions of what it means to be skinny, the reader may have positive connotations of the word skinny.
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 skinny. It is merely a neutral descriptive word.
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 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 desensitized many of us to slang. In certain situations, using slang at work may not be problematic, but keep in mind that words can have a powerful effect. Slang in professional e-mails or during meetings may convey the wrong message or even mistakenly offend someone.
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.
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 color, texture, sound, and even smell to your writing.
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 plagiarism is bad.
Specific: My teacher, Ms. Atwater, created a presentation detailing exactly how plagiarism is illegal and unethical.
Attribution
“Word Choice.” Writing for Success. By University of Minnesota. Located at: https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/4-3-word-choice/ License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Biased Language
This quick YouTube video explains biased language and how to avoid it: Avoiding Biased or Sexist Language
Misplaced Modifiers
During revision, check that any modifiers are as close as possible to what they modify. Otherwise, the sentence may not convey the intended meaning.
Examples:
Stolen from his car, Henry saw his wallet at the pawn shop. (Was Henry stolen? Was the pawn shop stolen?)
Revision: Henry saw his wallet, which was stolen from his car, at the pawn shop.
The flowers bloomed when the weather changed in the front yard. (The weather changed in the front yard only, but no where else?)
Revision: The flowers bloomed in the front yard when the weather changed.
The officers quickly wanted to solve the crime. (The officers quickly wanted?)
Revision: The officers wanted to solve the crime quickly.
I went dancing with my boyfriend in my new Gap jeans. (Ha, your boyfriend took your new Gap jeans? He’s not a very nice boyfriend.)
Revision: I went dancing in my new Gap jeans with my boyfriend.
Paul just bought the white house next to the supermarket with the blue trim. (The supermarket has blue trim?)
Revision: Paul just bought the white house with the blue trim next to the supermarket.
Dangling Modifiers-
After price-checking for hours, the stereo at Costco was the best deal.
No: After price-checking for hours at Costco, the stereo was the best deal.
Yes: After price checking for hours, Jim found the best deal on stereos at Costco.
After price checking for hours, Costco had the best deal on stereos.
The restaurant was very busy waiting 10 minutes for a table.
– The restaurant was very busy. She waited 10 minutes for a table.
OR
Add a subject to the independent clause &connect w/a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS):
– The restaurant was very busy, so she waited 10 minutes for a table.
OR
Make a dependent clause & add a subject to the independent clause:
-Because the restaurant was very busy, patrons were waiting 10 minutes for tables.
Sitting on the blanket, the sun shone brightly during our family picnic.
– During our family picnic, the sun shone brightly while we were sitting on the blanket.