UAB UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER Improving Word Choice

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

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.”

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

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

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 ________.

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.

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.