For example: Ponder Contemplate Muse Think about For example, if youre only allowed to use nouns and verbs that we borrowed from the French, then you cant use Anglo-Saxon nouns like cow, swine, or chicken, but you can use French loanwords like beef, pork, and poultry.. These dangling drops reflect light to add an elegant sparkle to your room. With award winning writer Jennifer Billock. I don't have reference to when the idiom "make up your mind" was first used, but I suspect it wasn't in use in Arthurian times, and even if it was, it sounds modern. Spelling. These words are often colloquially used, so theyre great for writing description, writing through a first-person narrative, or for transitional passages of prose. Choose your words carefully and use them to tell an engaging story. Your meaning basket shrinks and becomes a level-of-formality basket. If you've ever used the thesaurus (and I'd like to meet the writer that hasn't), you'll notice that the words offered are not altogether synonymous. You cant find the right words to express your ideas. Verbs are the most widely variegated units of language; the more things you can do in the world, the more verbs there are to describe them, making them great vehicles for both figurative language and vivid description. Time has branded them and fettered they are lodged in the room of the infinite possibilities they have ousted. Sensory words make your copy more memorable and persuasive, because they require more brain processing power than ordinary words. 2. Language is at its most fluid and interpretive in blackout poems! Together, those two words create a powerfully true visual image of sugar canein addition to establishing the martial language (spears, marching) used elsewhere in the passage. Learn more about books and courses, I never saw myself as a writer, but in my early forties, I learned how to write and discovered the joy of writing. However, make sure that those words actually relate to your paper's topic. Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, A microcopy is created in UX writing, which contains buttons, menus, lists, labels, descriptions, and so on. In his language. She had no stockings on. I find it useful, I employ it 100% of the time in my fiction and about 90% in other forms. A different word might not carry the same weight or feeling and could fail to communicate your message. When you next receive an email from a potential client, pay attention to the words they use to ask for a quote. She slaved over her blog post, polishing each sentence and fine-tuning each word. To let the words flow with the perfect rhythm. The first breeze. ), Nerdy linguistics aside, etymologies also make for a fun word choice exercise. Lecturer- Simon Stevens watch your language: choosing the right words advice for writing the research essay for the history and sociology of genocide unit this Author K. Eason discusses the process of condensing two book ideas into one with her new science fiction/fantasy novel, Nightwatch Over Windscar. In context, the word great connotes its opposite: something so bad that calling it great is intentionally ridiculous. In this workshop, you'll learn all the tools you need to make fun and engaging comic stripseven if your drawing level is "stick figures.". As a business owner, you need to focus on the content thats most important: your home page, your about page, and your sales pages. Perhaps because, like the sea, wine changes us; maybe the eyes of the sea are dark, as eyes often darken with wine; perhaps the sea is like a face, an inversion, a reflection of the self. Finally, this resource on verb usage does a great job at highlighting how to invent and expand your verb choice. Compare the following product descriptions: Too many ideas in a sentence are tiring for your readers: When each word adds meaning, your readers stop skimming and start reading. Chapter 18 - Choosing the Right Words: The Seven Deadly Errors of Writing 1. Yep, Im with you. But again, it's best to choose the word that communicates your point while evoking or echoing the tone of your manuscript, and if it's the longer word, so be it. Thank you. This is where you pick the word that will grace your essay. Make sure you understand the definition, and study usage examples so you can see the word in context. It starts roughly in an era analogous to our bronze age through to 5th century BC, Medieval times and 17th century AD. After that, you will pass out the worksheet for them to do independently.Worksheet - Choosing the Right Word Directions: Underline the correct word in the following sentences. connect with your audience and/ or readers successfully, choosing the right words is key. Virginia Woolf, by contrast, is known for writing thats poetic, intense, and melodramatic, and James Joyce for his lofty, superfluous writing style. Good evening Henneke. 3. Learn. It lets them understand why what you're telling them matters. Populate your Essay with Confident Words. Theres no time for recollection. When you are planning to say "consider," there are many similar words you could use instead. Be Patient. Once readers are involved in what you have to say to them, consider them bagged. We play with denotations and connotations all the time in colloquial English. When youre reading non-sensory words, your brain processes text. Its easy as hell. Dont just read the definition, though. They confuse rather than clarify. When you use the imperative form in an active voice, you minimize the number of words and make the button label easier to scan. We can help you to avoid mistakes with: Grammar. 32 total problems cover the four standard operations in math: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In the sprawling English language, one word can have dozens of synonyms. But why not work on your text while enjoying your coffee? the same sunrise stirred the feathered lances of cane By contrast, connotation refers to how the word is being used in its given context: which of that words many uses, associations, and connections are being employed. I was confounded by it. Choosing the right word is a matter of economy First of all, we should look at novels like extended and coherent chunks of the language we use every day. Day 7 asks poets to adapt. The precise word isn't necessarily the right word. Credential/experience keywords and general skills keywords. Here are some types of words you should use to make your resume stand out: 1. This is easier to understand with an example: His shirt was a nice red color. You are so helpful to me! Here are a few thoughts on choosing the right word from "English Through the Ages," a reference book by William Brohaugh: Keep word and phrase choice appropriate to the context. Read your draft out loud. By clarifying her language, Atwood creates a simple yet highly emotive duality. Knowing the word to start with. What is it theyre looking for? To see if a word is formal or informal, check once again with your dictionary. Some participants were arguing the point that using fancier word choices was the way to go. Youre most welcome, Mimi. Go for the shorter one. Are your clients aliens who love to chat with a world-class IT solutions provider? If you need to reach into your inner dictionary to unwrap it, I have bad news for you. Try inventing a word or phrase whose meaning will be as clear to the reader as wine-dark sea. Heres an example: One of the reasons that the English language is so large and inconsistent is that it borrows words from every language. If you see that a respected paper or magazine used that word in that context, youll know for sure you can too. Make sure that the keywords you choose are related to the jobs you are applying for. The more literature you consume, the more examples youll see of great words using the four elements of word choice. Great post also read the book. They spout exaggerated claims rather than provide the simple truth. . Word choice. As they explain it: Vigorous writing is concise. Words determine how the person speaking (or writing) them will be received, whether it be positive or negative. We try to make our products or services more special, more beautiful than the simple truth. A words denotative meaning is its literal dictionary definition, while its connotative meaning is the web of uses and associations it carries in context. jejune. It's frustrating when you can't automatically find the right words. Some Strong Methods for Choosing Words: 1) Use words with a clear definition, or denotation. Please try again. Appreciate the beauty of language. In dialogue or thoughts, the right word can reveal what other characters think and feel. Tom and Cindy (went, goes) to the movie. Im so glad this article was useful, Rebecca! Test. If yes, its concrete. Consider your word choice to be the fingerprint of your writing. It tends to have a wider range of examples and credits the source it has plucked a given sentence from. Your first job is to make him feel youre talking with him. The simplest answer, and the one youll hear the most often, is by reading. Join the conversation thats already going on in your readers head. Thank you for adding your thoughts, Shelly . Your brain processes sensory words as if you taste a bland or sickly sweet cake, as if you see a dazzling display of colors, as if you feel a rough texture. Rule 4: Use the Active Imperative Form. The poems ambivalent feelings toward small hometowns presents itself through the mood of the writing. Since more precise words give the reader added context, specificity also opens the door for more poetic opportunities. This week, we're excited to announce seven WDU courses, a chance to vote for your favorite Your Story submission, and more! Suppose youre writing an academic essay on suffragettes in the late nineteenth century. 3 thoughts on " Choosing the Right Word " MICHAEL SAMUEL SCHOCKEN April 16, 2013 at 2:58 pm. Better the character have said something that sounded a bit archaic, like "My mind is firm.". Or when writing a blog post, spend your time fine-tuning your headline and polishing your first and last paragraphs because thats where you need to engage and inspire your reader. Whats worse my extremely sensitive and diplomatic offer to help enhance her copy was refused. Ever wondered whether theres a secret to engaging your readers with the right words? Flowery or distracting language can be just as risky, taking the reader right . Then your content can really start to shine. For example, streetwise characters in a novel wouldn't likely use technical jargon or acronyms. She fought her demons and silenced them to write her most inspirational post ever. Bill had gone into the bar. by Henneke | 18 enchanting opinions, add yours? To give our writing clarity and verve, we not only need a good method of construction, but also good materials. Place the brand at the end of the ad and keep the ad between one to 1.5 minutes long. Keep word and phrase choice appropriate to the context. Strong word choice means that every word you write packs a punch. What do you do if you find yourself in a tight spot in the middle of a closed-book exam with a clock ticking your allotted time down? So, how do you expand your vocabulary? What are some words that this feeling brings up? Choosing the right words to convey setting I'm writing a few novellas that connect together over my world's history. Menu. In this short article, you'll learn the importance of choosing the right words, to ways to find the right word and when to spend time looking for the right word. In his book How to Write a Damn Good Novel James N. Frey mentions motion as another sense. neutral words underlined in the sentences below. And notice the sentences you *bleergh* dont like, because theyre complicated or chaotic, or booooring. Thats when your content become seductive no matter whether its sales copy, a blog post, or a business email. This is true only if "less-precise" isn't synonymous with "wrong." The first to drop are the words that dont mean what you want them to mean. It's important to understand the connotations of the words you use to express your core message. Can you see, hear, smell or feel the word? That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, This is another way of saying that word choice conveys not only direct meaning, but also a web of associations and feelings that contribute to building the readers world. Why wine-dark specifically? Youll employ a more refined vocabulary, one that is more likely to contain the words undeniably and defenestrate. As you expand your word choice and consider the weight of each word, focus on targeting precise emotions in your descriptions and figurative language. 'I' is not the only way of writing in a confident tone. We are also happy to provide personalized help with our professional proofreading service. When you find one, ask yourself if the word it's modifying is the one you really mean or do you need to find a better one. It's not talent, craft, or even the right connectionsit's consistency and courage. This is great. Click To Tweet. The sentence above contains a grammatical problem in regards to word form. So far so good. The meaning of word choice may seem self-explanatory, but to truly transform your style and writing, we need to dissect the elements of choosing the right word. This article will explore what word choice is, and offer some examples of effective word choice, before giving you 5 word choice exercises to try for yourself. See more ideas about writing tips, writing help, english vocabulary. Award-winning author Edward J. Delaney discusses the difference between nonfiction and biographical fiction with his new novel, The Acrobat. Because verbs are the most important part of the sentence, they are something you must focus on when expanding the reaches of your word choice. All day she worked like a dog on her blog post; at 2am she finally finished editing. Had Pyrrhus not fallen by a beldams hand in Argos or Julius Caesar not been knifed to death. Take on any writing project with gusto. Read the questions carefully and answer. Rather, it's based on the natural curiosity for the basic principles of writing that any self-respecting writer generally possesses. In Step 1, get rid of all the words youre unsure about. Use a thesaurus to inspire your writing, but beware: so-called synonyms often have a slightly different meaning. Use Evernote or a simple text file to collect words, phrases, and sentences that enchant you. E-Prime offers writers and readers more cogent and descriptive language by removing useless irregular verbs as To Be. To be clear, UX writing is a subset of content writing with a few key distinctions. Quite ironically, for a step thats the simplest of all four, it can actually be tricky. 1. What world does the word wonky help build for your reader, and what world does the word seditious help build? 2022 Active Interest Media All Rights Reserved. If a winner hasnt been decided yet, this step is it. If you must use self-referring pronouns, keep altering between 'me', 'my' and the like to keep it clean and self-centric. Choosing the right word can help your readers or listeners "see" what you see. Success! I'm thinking of the TV mini-series Merlin, in which a medieval character states, "My mind is made up." Punctuation. The standard way to measure the length of a word is by the number of letters its made up of. The starkest example and the basis of a famous meme is the internet and the way its three-letter abbreviation is spelt. It is now stashed in my favorites. Thanks for linking up those other references on the subject. Try to write a poem, or even a sentence, that evokes a particular mood through words that bring that word to mind. And last, right there by the finishing line but not quite touching it, the words that are exact, appropriate, and concrete but happen to be longer than the victor. The story problems are written in a variety of levels and can be differentiated among students. Usually the same person is always walkingbehind me. Ernest Hemingway, for example, is known for his terse, no-nonsense, to-the-point styles of description. Sadey (likes, like) to chase Cassie in the yard. For a less historical example, Im currently working on my poetry thesis, with pop culture monsters being the central theme of the poems. This quiz has been designed to test how well you are in using the right words for the following sentences which sounds similar but means different. Avoiding the most common problems with word choice boils down to a few simple guidelines: Avoid redundancy. As a simple example, when someone says greaaaaaat sarcastically, we know that what theyre referring to isnt great at all. When we use words connotatively, were letting context drive the meaning of the sentence. Thanks for commenting, and I hope you enjoy Requiem for the Orchard. When you next discuss a project on the phone, notice how your client formulates his questions or comments. Christy and Megan (likes, like) to read (their, there) mystery books. Strong action verbs. It doesn't matter who you are - choosing the right word in writing has always been a problem. 3. But when you read sensory words like bland or sickly sweet, dazzling or silky smooth different areas of your brain light up. Let's think about why that happens, and how you can build more fluency in your speech. make your copy more memorable and persuasive, 4 types of weak words to eliminate from your writing, 172+ power words to boost your persuasiveness. The reason is simple. When it comes to picking the right word, the simplest is often best. The curtains were drawn. 3. Helping Writers Become Authors, http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com, Do You Struggle to Find the Perfect Word? You should ordinarily avoid redundancies to create leaner, stronger sentences. We demonstrate and evaluate our application on both a domain-specific (scientific), writing task and a general-purpose writing task. Terms in this set (20) . View Choosing the Right Words.pdf from COMM LL044 at Mohawk College. Rather than stay stuck, most writers will pull out a thesaurus, online or hard copy. See more ideas about words, writing words, writing skills. Writing is a series of choices. Every word carries its own set of associations and nuances that shape your writing . Of course, your writing shouldnt overflow with made-up words and pretentious portmanteaus, but if you create language at a crucial moment, you might be able to highlight something that our current language cant. See how words sketch a scene. Of course, E-Prime writing isnt the best type of writing for every project. Lets have a look at the 3 sentences again, and see how we can make them more sensory: Research has proven that touching a product increases your desire to own it (pdf). 5 Key Ways to Choose the Right Word (Without a 5 Key Ways to Choose the Right Word (Without a Thesaurus!) Write for every user One of the most important elements of successful UX writing is establishing a connection to your audience and your brand. This latter group consists of words that are concrete, that are easy to visualise, as opposed to words that you need to think long and hard to conceptualise. Let's look at some examples of these principles on word choice in action. These two tools, OneLook and Related Words offer just the right balance of speed and thoroughness to help. This is a great article and a great reminder to us all of what should or shouldnt go into a sales page or copy. First, consider the redundancy in word choices. Individual words and phrases are the building blocks of fiction, the genes that generate everything else. The above paragraph is written in E-Prime, but stretching it out across this entire article would be tricky. Even if you have to add words, replace vague terms with specifics that convey a precise message to your reader. I walkhome from work every night. The instructors at Writers.com are masters of the craft. Oh well Thank you for sharing your insight on this. The novelist is known for her _____ writing style, using many unusual words, figures of speech, and involved constructions. When the mile run began, Ken quickly took the lead . Choosing the right words can make the difference between flat, tedious writing and writing that sings a clear, sweet song. These latter words pack more meaning than their blander counterparts. For example, a nurse would use keywords . Sadlier Oxford Unit 4 Choosing the Right Word. Rule 3: Choose sensory words. Built by Varick Design, A Great Post from K M Weiland on Finding the Right Word | Griffin Professional Business and Training Services. Thus, wine-dark is a poetic combination of words that leads to intensive literary analysis. (Hint: You will most likely remove the qualifier or find a better one.) We use a bidirectional Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) with LSTM for learning the proper word choice based on a word's sentential context. 1. A long-time editor gives more advice for word. Scrivener for Windows has a similar feature, but since Windows doesn't have a built-in dictionary, Scrivener uses an open-source dictionary. Enjoyed your article, but sickly sweet cake? Sickeningly sweet, possibly. Your text sounds either naff or bland. Omit needless words is, in fact, a general order issued by Strunk and White in their classic Elements of Style. Like conceptualise. Use sensory words to let them imagine holding your product or working with you. Choosing the Correct Word Form. As you start racking your brain, grab only those words that define precisely the thing, person, place, action, feeling, or concept thats popped up in your inner eye. The definition of word choice extends far beyond the simplicity of choosing the right words. Choosing the right word takes into consideration many different factors, and finding the word that packs the most punch requires both a great vocabulary and a great understanding of the nuances in English. Use words you know. Good writers are constantly aware of the impression each word carries. Such is the nature of modern languages that two or more words may define exactly the same thing. A poem has many moving parts, from sound and rhythm to form, voice, and figurative language. For a great word choice example using blackout poetry, read The Author Writes the First Draft of His Wedding Vows by Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib. Thank you for posting this excellent essay. Writers fine-tune their words because the right vocabulary will build lush, emotive worlds. Now lets take some famous lines from Shakespeares Macbeth. :). Need more help choosing the right words? Examples of tone in writing. The first stanza feels almost romantic until we read the second stanza. This is the true meaning of concise or economical writing. precocious. To find a more dazzling metaphor. The following excerpt from "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night", a poem by Dylan Thomas, conveys a tone of urgency and desperation: "Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rage at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.". Seriously, I love to write, and your suggestions were very helpful, thanks! Listen for what sounds right. In Step 2, trust your gut. Knowing how to choose the right words is predicated upon: 1. The challenge of building a mood produces this poems gravity and sincerity. Youre writing, and writing, and writing. A reader-friendly word is simpler to understand and, thanks to the image that comes attached with it, is more effective at pulling the reader into your text. 'Course not. Words like kin, thanks and small, for instance, are deeply rooted in Old English before A.D. 1000, while words like relatives (from the 1600s), gratitude (in use by 1450) and tiny (from the 1500s) are from succeeding generations. 3. Try forcing yourself to write a poem or a story only using words of certain etymologies and avoiding others. Flashcards. It could be edited down to: Many student athletes could have a bright future. The intent of E-Prime writing is to make all of your subjects active and to make your verbs more impactful. How word choice shapes your voice 4 types of weak words to eliminate from your writing 172+ power words to boost your persuasiveness, 29 ways to improve your writing skills (the essential list). Pick a favorite poem of your own and make something completely new out of it using blackout poetry. Professional writing, however, might . The description of what the business does (or what passed as a description) may as well have been written in Chinese to me. Being able to remember it. You probably wouldnt use words like lugubrious or luculent in a young adult novel, nor would you use words like silly or wonky in a legal document. Use the same phrases they use and they know immediately theyre in the right place. Out, out, brief candle! Too many words on a button label make users read more. Contact | Comment Policy | Privacy Statement | Terms and Conditions | Copyright 2022 Enchanting Marketing Ltd. 4. And then is heard no more. Finding the right words in UX writing. To see if a word is formal or informal, check once again with your dictionary. On vocabulary and word choice, King writes: "Remember that the basic rule of vocabulary is use the first word that comes to your mind, if it is appropriate and colorful." Assuming you have read a good number of great (or at least good) books, words will usually come to your mind without too much effort. By eschewing all forms of the verb to beusing words such as is, am, are, was, and other being verbsyour writing should feel more clear, active, and precise! Correct all your writing errors. You can use jargon but only if your reader actively uses the same jargon. He was standing talking with Brett, who was sitting on a high stool, her legs crossed. Certainly, test takers dont have the luxury of going through the first two steps with a dictionary at hand, especially if its a language exam. One trick to try is to make up new language in your revisions. When you add a word to make your sentence more specific or to paint a more vivid picture, then more words can boost your persuasiveness. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 5 word choice exercises to try for yourself, The Author Writes the First Draft of His Wedding Vows, http://writers.com/word-choice-in-writing#exercises, How to Become an Outstanding Architect The Beginner's Guide to Everything. In strong writing, every single word is chosen for maximum impact. Its entries usually indicate how appropriate a . The site had little to no information (three two-lined sentences or so) on three pages, with no menu headings, just a link from previous page. This pack includes 8 *mostly* black and white story problem activity sheets for you to print and go! Credential/experience keywords focus on the key skills for the industry or profession you are writing the resume for. There are several powerful words that can lend strength and credibility to your write-up. Explore the border between prose poetry and flash fiction. If children know the words, the words will be reinforced as they read your entertaining tale. Discuss with others in your class the associations you make with the words you have chosen. Think about the difference between the words "utilize" and "use.". By using active words or describing movement, you help your readers experience your copy, too. We can still understand what this sentence means, but because an incorrect suffix is used, the sentence is ungrammatical. So what's the best way to pick these materials? Baffled? Choosing the right word takes into consideration many different factors, and finding the word that packs the most punch requires both a great vocabulary and a great understanding of the nuances in English. Of course, there are also some great programs for expanding your vocabulary as well. Vocabulary is a last topic in word choice. Before we offer some word choice exercises to expand your writing horizons, we first want to mention the importance of verbs. 1. Too many websites arent helpful at all. Nicely done, Henneke. Words like good, average, and awful are far less descriptive and specific than words like liberating (not just good but good and freeing), C student (not just average but academically average), and despicable (not just awful but morally awful). You generally know when to use which word and even if youre unsure, dont be afraid of experimenting. Choose the right level of formality. The active imperative form turns verb phrases into commands.