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HOW TO USE WORD CHOICE
THAT CATCHES THE
READER'S

You want your reader to see what you are writing about, but you have to create the images with words, not pictures. Be sure to follow the descriptors for word choice when you write.

USE LANGUAGE THAT IS NATURAL AND NOT OVERDONE

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

USE SLANG AND CLICHÉS SPARINGLY

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

AVOID REPETITION

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

USE WORDS CORRECTLY

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

BE CONCISE

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

USE POWERFUL ACTION VERBS

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

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

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

USE SPECIFIC, NOT GENERAL, NOUNS

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

USE ADJECTIVES THAT ARE AS DESCRIPTIVE AS POSSIBLE

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

CREATE A MENTAL PICTURE WITH WORDS FOR THE READER

Choose your words carefully. Look for the best word or phrase to describe what you are writing about. Similes and metaphors are good ways to describe something so your reader can picture it.

	Example: They were out of control, running all over the place.
	Simile: They had no more direction than a splattered egg.
	Example: The candle in the window helped us find our way home in the dark.
	Metaphor: The candle was a beacon in the night.

AVOID VAGUE, BORING, AND OVERUSED WORDS

Try to avoid the following words and phrases whenever possible:

a little bit

a lot

actually

all

always

area

as far as...concerned

aspect

at least

awesome

big

boring

certainly

incidentally

interesting

involved with

just

kind of

little

lots

nice

obviously

of course

particularly

phrase

predicament

pretty

problem

somehow

something like

somewhat

sort of

specially

stuff

surely

that...

thing

too

totally

tremendously

very

which...

whole

"SHOW" RATHER THAN "TELL"

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

are

was

were

being

been

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This site last updated 2 September 2007.

External links last verified 2 September 2007.

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HOW TO USE WORD CHOICE THAT CATCHES THE READER'S

HOW TO USE WORD CHOICE
THAT CATCHES THE
READER'S