Importance of Word Choice
Diction
Choice or use of words and phrases in speech and writing Involves paying close attention to word definitions
Why is word choice important?
Critical to writing effectively
Using Proper Connotations
Denotation - dictionary definition of a word Connotation - emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word - can be positive, negative or neutral
Slang
Describes informal words that are considered non-standard English Often changes with passing fads May be used by or familiar only to a specific group of people Appropriate to use between friends, in an informal context Should be avoided in formal, academic writing Used in emails, text and instant messages, personal correspondence Do not use at work, may be found offensive or convey the wrong message
Cliche
Descriptive expressions that hav lost their effectiveness because they are overused Writing that uses cliches often suffers from a lack of originality or insight Avoiding their use will help your writing be fresh and original TIP: when you use a cliche, try replacing it with a more descriptive phrase
Denotative
Dictionary definition meaning of a word Dictionary meaning, objective definition, no opinion, tells what something is
Connatative
Emotional or cultural definition or meaning of a word Subjective meaning of a word or phrase based on physical experiences and beliefs
Effective Writing
Involves making conscious choices with words Use words to best convey your ideas to the reader Use a dictionary/thesaurus Avoid using slang, cliche's, overly general words Use proper connotations
Thesaurus
Thesaurus 1. Synonyms - words that have the same meaning or very close to the same meaning 2. Antonyms - words with the opposite meaning Helps when you are looking for just the right word with the right meaning to convey your ideas Also helps you learn more words and use the ones you already know more correctly
Antonym
Words that have the opposite meaning of a given word Study antonyms to sharpen your overall sense of language Effective way to increase your vocabulary
Synonym
Words that have the same or almost the same meaning as another word Important to remember that not all pairs are easily interchangeable Pay careful attention to choice of word when choosing a synonym
Etymology
the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history Origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning
Dictionaries
1. Spelling - how the word and its different forms are spelled 2. Pronunciation - how to say the word 3. Part of Speech - the function of the word 4. Definition - the meaning of the word 5. Synonyms - words that have similar meanings 6. Etymology - history of the word
Overly General Words
Add words that provide color, texture, sound, smell, etc to your writing to avoid using overly general words Specific words and images make your writing more interesting to read General: My puppy is cute. Specific: My new puppy is a ball of white fuzz with the biggest black eyes I have ever seen. Use a dictionary/thesaurus as you write to improve your writing by improving your word choice
Dictionaries and Thesaauri
Reference books for words
Connotation Examples
Scrawny, Skinny, Lean Scrawny can be negative, perceived as a weakness or flaw Skinny can be positive, based on cultural perception of what it means to be skinny vs. fat Lean can be neutral - does not imply skinny, scrawny or any cultural impressions, merely a descriptive word TIP: all three words have similar denotation, however, connotation is very different
