Writing {Word Choice}
- https://youtu.be/NlaeV-TH8WE
- Word choice refers to a writer’s selection of words as determined by a number of factors, including meaning (both denotative and connotative), specificity, level of diction, tone, and audience. Another term for word choice is diction. Word choice is an essential ingredient of style.
- Six Principles of Word Choice
- Choose understandable words.
- Use specific, precise words.
- Choose strong words.
- Emphasize positive words.
- Avoid overused words.
- Avoid obsolete words.
4. How to say it better… GET, GOT, GOTTEN, GETTING
- She got out of the way.
- She didn’t actually get something, so ….
- She moved out of the way.
- He was getting bored.
- He wasn’t actually getting anything, so…
- He was bored. Or… He became bored.
- Then he did get an accomplishment done.
- He didn’t get the accomplishment, so..
- Then he accomplished his goal.
5. Suggested alternatives for the dreaded “to be” verbs:
| Be | endure, survive, exist, last, live, persist, prevail, abide, arise, contribute | |
| Have | carry, bear, possess, hold, keep, retain, regard, include, use, require, receive, accept, exhibit, show, exercise, experience, submitted to, allow, trick, fooled, undergoing, compel, oblige, require, mandate | |
| Do | carry out, put, perform, execute, commit, bring about, effect, finish, exert, exhaust, produce, mimic, manage, | |
| Will | desire, wish, disposition, inclination, determination, request, command, volition, employ, means, order | |
| Must | requirement, essential, signify, happen | |
| Would | wish, desired, want, occur, appear, look, constitute, make, equal | |
| Not | fail, inability, lack, dearth, without, absence, void, null, vacuum |