Presented by the UTA English Writing Center Choosing Words Wisely Presented by the UTA English Writing Center Updated 11/20/2014 TW

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The Problem Using the right word at the right time matters for clarity. Do you know what these words mean? If you are headed to the crag today make sure you fill your rack with a range of cams and stoppers or you will have to bail your beta flash attempt. The crux includes a dyno off an arête. Make sure you flag before you dyno or you will barn door. www.uta.edu/owl

Choosing Appropriate Synonyms Every word has a denotation and a connotation: Denotation – the formal meaning of words. Denotative language uses straightforward, seemingly neutral words to describe people, events, ideas, and theories. Connotation – the cultural and emotional baggage that words carry. Connotative language describes people, events, ideas, and theories in words that carry special associations and allusions, i.e. words which are particularly vivid or emotional

Practice When choosing the appropriate word to express the appropriate sentiment be sure to keep in mind that certain words carry certain cultural meanings and may change your intended meaning. Active vs. Enthusiastic vs. Fanatical Childlike vs. Childish vs. Youthful Frugal vs. Thrifty vs. Penny-pinching Inexpensive vs. Cheap Pushy vs. Aggressive Politician vs. Statesman Chef vs. Cook

Choosing Appropriate Synonyms How do you know which words to use? 1. Consult a dictionary and/or thesaurus 2. Think critically about the suggestions made by your spell-checker on your word processor 3. Get a second opinion (reader)

Word Accuracy A common mistake made by writers is confusion among homonyms and heteronyms. www.uta.edu/owl

Commonly Misused Words “There” is an adverb of place. “Their” is a possessive pronoun. “They’re” is a contraction of “they are.” “Your” is a possessive pronoun. “You’re” is a contraction of “you are.” “Its” is a possessive pronoun. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.” “Affect,” as a verb, means “to influence.” As a noun, it means “a feeling or emotion.” “Effect,” as a verb, means “to make or accomplish.” As a noun, it means “result.” www.uta.edu/owl

Other Misuses of Words Many mistakes are made when forms of words are misused according to parts of speech. For example, using the noun-form of a word instead of the verb-form. Ex: Most dieters are not persistence enough to make a permanent change. ^ “Persistence” is a noun, but the adjective form is needed, which would be “persistent.” www.uta.edu/owl

Articles Definite article – “The” – points to something specific: the book, the church, the criminal, the apple Indefinite article – “a, an” – refers to something more generally: a book, a church, a criminal, an apple

Using Condensed Language When revising look for words and phrases that can be condensed or simplified. There are several things that you should look for. Sprawling Phrases Nominalizations Long Verb Phrases Unneeded intensifiers, redundancies, and doublings Prepositional Phrases Relative Pronouns

Sprawling Phrases Wordiness slows a reader’s way into a sentence, especially at the beginning. Why Write… When You Could Write … In the event that On the grounds that Regardless of the fact that It is obvious that At this point in time If Because Although Obviously Now

Nominalizations Nouns made by adding endings to verbs and adjectives. Avoid nominalizations that replace action verbs. Wordy: A falsification of evidence has occurred. Revised: Someone falsified evidence.

Long Verb Phrases Some verb phrases are necessary; however, most are not. Try to condense the clutter of long verb phrases. Why Write… When You Could Write… Give consideration to Make acknowledgement of Put the emphasis on Is similar to Consider Acknowledge Emphasize Resembles

Intensifiers, Redundancies, and Doublings: Why write…. When you could write… We’re completely finished. We’re finished. That’s absolutely pointless. That’s pointless. Redundancies: Why write… When you could write… Trading activity was halted Trading was halted Of a confidential nature Confidential Her area of specialization Her specialty Doublings: Trim and slim fitting and proper Ready and able willing and eager

Prepositional Phrases Too many prepositional phrases can become burdensome for the reader. Too Many: In late summer on the road from our town into the country, we expected to find raspberries in the fields near the highway by the recent construction. Revised: We expected to find late-summer raspberries on the country road, near the recent construction.

Relative Pronouns Relative pronouns introduce modifying clause, but you can often cut them for economy. Wordy: The book that I had quoted from was missing. Revised: The book I had quoted from was missing.

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