HOW TO USE WORDS HOW TO USE WORDS THAT CATCH THETHAT CATCH THEREADER'S READER'S 

You want your reader to see what You want your reader to see what you are writing about, but you have you are writing about, but you have to create the images with words, not to create the images with words, not pictures. pictures.

Why is word choice important Why is word choice important in argumentative writing?in argumentative writing?

Because word choice affects the Because word choice affects the audience's response. audience's response.

Here are some tips:Here are some tips:

USE LANGUAGE THAT IS USE LANGUAGE THAT IS NATURAL AND NOT OVERDONE NATURAL AND NOT OVERDONE

If you overdo the language or use If you overdo the language or use language that just doesn't sound language that just doesn't sound right, your reader will know you are right, your reader will know you are "faking" it. "faking" it.

USE SLANG AND CLICHÉS USE SLANG AND CLICHÉS SPARINGLY SPARINGLY

In fact, you should avoid them In fact, you should avoid them altogether if possible. It is better to altogether if possible. It is better to use something original than use something original than something everyone has heard or something everyone has heard or even said before. even said before.

AVOID REPETITION AVOID REPETITION

Don't use the same word over and over. Don't use the same word over and over. Use a thesaurus to find another way to say Use a thesaurus to find another way to say it.it.

However, be careful with the positive or However, be careful with the positive or negative connotation the word has. negative connotation the word has.

USE WORDS CORRECTLY USE WORDS CORRECTLY

If you aren't sure of a word, look it up. If you aren't sure of a word, look it up. Use not only a thesaurus, but a Use not only a thesaurus, but a dictionary. Just because a word is a dictionary. Just because a word is a synonym for another does not mean synonym for another does not mean they are interchangeable, so double they are interchangeable, so double check it. check it.

BE CONCISE BE CONCISE

Use words that are as descriptive as Use words that are as descriptive as possible. You'll get your meaning possible. You'll get your meaning across better and use fewer words. The across better and use fewer words. The fewer words you use, the more likely fewer words you use, the more likely you'll keep your reader's attention. you'll keep your reader's attention.

USE POWERFUL ACTION USE POWERFUL ACTION VERBS VERBS

Write sentences that have the subjects doing something. Write sentences that have the subjects doing something. Avoid linking verbs such as am, are, is, be, being, and been. Avoid linking verbs such as am, are, is, be, being, and been. Use verbs that create specific images in the reader's mind. Use verbs that create specific images in the reader's mind. If you do this, you will show rather than tell your reader If you do this, you will show rather than tell your reader what is happening, you will be able to describe without what is happening, you will be able to describe without stopping the action, and you will give more information with stopping the action, and you will give more information with fewer words. fewer words.

To ensure you are using active verbs, find the doer of the To ensure you are using active verbs, find the doer of the action and make it the subject of the sentence. action and make it the subject of the sentence.

Example: The car was hit by the tractor. Example: The car was hit by the tractor. Doer = tractor Doer = tractor The The tractor hit the car. tractor hit the car.

USE SPECIFIC, NOT GENERAL, USE SPECIFIC, NOT GENERAL, NOUNS NOUNS

Be descriptive with nouns. Instead of Be descriptive with nouns. Instead of saying, "the woman," give her name. Give saying, "the woman," give her name. Give the type of car. Instead of "football the type of car. Instead of "football player," tell his position. player," tell his position. Be as specific as Be as specific as you can. you can.

USE ADJECTIVES THAT ARE AS USE ADJECTIVES THAT ARE AS DESCRIPTIVE AS POSSIBLE DESCRIPTIVE AS POSSIBLE

Big, huge, and gigantic all mean the Big, huge, and gigantic all mean the same thing, but gigantic is a better same thing, but gigantic is a better choice if you are describing a choice if you are describing a tyrannosaurus for example. tyrannosaurus for example.

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE WITH WORDS FOR THE WITH WORDS FOR THE

READER READER Choose your words carefully. Look for the best word or phrase Choose your words carefully. Look for the best word or phrase

to describe what you are writing about. Similes and metaphors to describe what you are writing about. Similes and metaphors are good ways to describe something so your reader can are good ways to describe something so your reader can picture it. picture it.

Example: They were out of control, running all over the place.Example: They were out of control, running all over the place.Simile: They had no more direction than a splattered egg.Simile: They had no more direction than a splattered egg.

Example: The candle in the window helped us find our way Example: The candle in the window helped us find our way home in the dark.home in the dark.Metaphor: The candle was a beacon in the night. Metaphor: The candle was a beacon in the night.

AVOID VAGUE, BORING, AND AVOID VAGUE, BORING, AND OVERUSED WORDS OVERUSED WORDS

Try to avoid the following words and phrases Try to avoid the following words and phrases

whenever possible:whenever possible: a little bit a little bit

a lota lot

actuallyactually

allall

alwaysalways

areaarea

as far as....as far as....

aspectaspect

at leastat least

awesomeawesome

big big

boring certainlyboring certainly

IncidentallyIncidentally

InterestingInteresting

involved withinvolved with

JustJust

kind ofkind of

LittleLittle

LotsLots

NiceNice

obviouslyobviously

of course of course

particularlyparticularly

phrasephrase

predicamentpredicament

prettypretty

problemproblem

somehowsomehow

something likesomething like

somewhatsomewhat

sort ofsort of

specially specially

stuff stuff

surelysurely

that...that...

thingthing

tootoo

totallytotally

tremendouslytremendously

veryvery

which...which...

whole whole

"SHOW" RATHER THAN "SHOW" RATHER THAN "TELL" "TELL"

Replace linking verbs with action verbs to Replace linking verbs with action verbs to "show" rather than "tell" your reader what "show" rather than "tell" your reader what you mean. you mean. Common linking verbs: Common linking verbs:

amam isis areare waswas werweree

bebe beinbeingg

beebeenn

Now let’s do some practiseNow let’s do some practise

Classify the following words into neutral, positive Classify the following words into neutral, positive or negative:or negative:

student, apprentice, disciple, junior, learner, novice, student, apprentice, disciple, junior, learner, novice, scholar, undergraduatescholar, undergraduate

skinny, bony, angular, emaciated, gaunt, malnourished, skinny, bony, angular, emaciated, gaunt, malnourished, scrawny, slender, thin, anorexicscrawny, slender, thin, anorexic

run, amble, bound, dart, dash, gallop, lope, scamper, sprintrun, amble, bound, dart, dash, gallop, lope, scamper, sprint vacation, break, fiesta, furlough, holiday, intermission, vacation, break, fiesta, furlough, holiday, intermission,

layoff, recess, respite, sabbaticallayoff, recess, respite, sabbatical useful, helpful, valuable, beneficial, functional, handy, useful, helpful, valuable, beneficial, functional, handy,

practicalpractical fat, obese, chubby, stout, plump, stockyfat, obese, chubby, stout, plump, stocky friend, companion, buddy, acquaintance, colleague, friend, companion, buddy, acquaintance, colleague,

playmateplaymate

Underline what words stand Underline what words stand out in the text that make the out in the text that make the passage memorable.passage memorable. Hence, quite aside from the injustice which Hence, quite aside from the injustice which

stereotypes do to others, they impoverish stereotypes do to others, they impoverish ourselves. A person who lumps the world into ourselves. A person who lumps the world into simple categories, who type-casts all labor leaders simple categories, who type-casts all labor leaders as "racketeers," all businessmen as "reactionaries," as "racketeers," all businessmen as "reactionaries," all Harvard men as "snobs," and all Frenchmen as all Harvard men as "snobs," and all Frenchmen as "sexy," is in danger of becoming a stereotype "sexy," is in danger of becoming a stereotype himself. He loses his capacity to be himself—which himself. He loses his capacity to be himself—which is to say, to see the world in his own absolutely is to say, to see the world in his own absolutely unique, inimitable and independent fashion.unique, inimitable and independent fashion.

Look at the paragraph below. The word Look at the paragraph below. The word decisions made in this paragraph need decisions made in this paragraph need some improvement. Rewrite the some improvement. Rewrite the paragraph to show better word choice.paragraph to show better word choice.

Jennifer had quite a strange day last week. It began when Jennifer had quite a strange day last week. It began when she got up. She was late for school. She raced around she got up. She was late for school. She raced around getting dressed in the middle of the dark. It was quite a getting dressed in the middle of the dark. It was quite a mistake. She put on mismatched socks, two different color mistake. She put on mismatched socks, two different color shoes, and a sweater with a large ketchup stain on it. As shoes, and a sweater with a large ketchup stain on it. As she went downstairs, Jennifer tried to get a quick breakfast. she went downstairs, Jennifer tried to get a quick breakfast. She thought she took a granola bar, but instead it was She thought she took a granola bar, but instead it was something else. As soon as she went outside, she tripped something else. As soon as she went outside, she tripped down the stairs. Of course, this happened just as the bus down the stairs. Of course, this happened just as the bus showed up in front of her house. She got on the bus with no showed up in front of her house. She got on the bus with no breakfast, a bad wardrobe, and her face quite red. And, breakfast, a bad wardrobe, and her face quite red. And, that was just the start of herthat was just the start of her

day.day.