Improving Word Choice

1. Improving Word Choice UAB University Writing Center

2. Features of Effective Word Choice • Clarity – the meaning of the word is clear, not ambiguous • Concise – each word has purpose and power; no unnecessary words • Coherent – each word is clearly connected within its phrase, sentence, and paragraph • Emphasis – each word is situated within the sentence in a way that clearly indicates its degree of emphasis in the sentence

3. Clarity • Watch the use of pronouns – always locate its antecedent and make sure it is clear and agrees: • Everyone (singular) wants their (plural) study to be featured in their (whose?) latest journal. • Each aspiring researcher wants his or her study to be featured in the latest scientific journal. • Context shapes meaning, but taken out of context, a word may lose its clarity. • Ex. Character: a person in a fictional setting, such as a novel, a play, or movie; a symbol on a keypad; positive connotation: one’s inner level of integrity, as in “moral character”; negative connotation: a jokster, as in “he’s a real character.”

4. Concise • “Less is more” strategy: one strong word choice is preferable to several weak words • Reduce clauses to phrases. • Reduce prepositional phrases to adjectives: • Ecosystem with many endangered species  Endangered ecosystem • Avoid unnecessary repetition • Be specific, rather than vague • Try reversing the order of the sentence

5. Coherent • Generally, coherence refers to how the word fits within its paragraph and/or essay context • Repeat key terms • Use transitional/cohesive devices that show connections/relationships among the words: • Therefore, Although, In addition to, However, First, Second, Finally, Because, Moreover, In summary… • Keep consistent connotative value among word choice • Keep verb tense consistent

6. Emphasis • The location of a word in a sentence indicates its importance. • The strongest position (in English syntax) is the beginning of a sentence or independent clause. • Subjects often go at the beginning of a sentence. • For emphasis, a connecting word may precede the subject. • The second strongest position (in English syntax) is the end of a sentence or independent clause. • Ex. What we really want in sentences is ________.

7. Strategies to Improve Word Choice • Reduce the use of linking or passive verbs: • Circle every use of am, is, are, was, were, being, been • Consider replacing the weak verb with an action verb: ex. He is exciting vs. He excites. • If passive, consider placing the subject before the verb: ex. She was hit by the ball vs. The ball hit her.

8. Strategies to Improve Word Choice • Read a variety of nonfiction genres • Learn the discourse of your writing community (read discipline-specific articles, abstracts, reports) • Replace clichés • Replace unnecessary words or phrases. • Replace “It is” or “There are” whenever possible. • Ex. It is imperative that writers use engaging, effective language for academic writing. • Better Ex. Writing for academic audiences requires the use of engaging, effective language.