2. McGraw-Hill/Irwin PPT Module 15 Choosing the Right Word Choosing the Right Word ©2007, The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved.

3. 15-1 Choosing the Right Word  To learn how to  Choose words precisely.  Choose words ethically.  Choose words with appropriate connotations.  Think critically and solve problems.

4. 15-2 Choosing the Right Word Start by answering these questions:  Does using the right word really matter?  How do words get their meanings?  Is it OK to use jargon?  What words confuse some writers?

5. 15-3 Types of Words  Accurate Words  Appropriate Words  Familiar Words  Technical Jargon

6. 15-4 Understanding Words  Denotation  A word’s literal or dictionary meaning.  Connotation  The emotional colorings or associations that accompany a word.  Bypassing  When two people use the same word to mean different things.

7. 15-5 Negative Words  Avoid negative words—choose positive alternatives.  Not guess, argue or stubborn but assume, debate or firm.  Avoid stuffy words.  Not commence or utilize, but begin or use.

8. 15-6 Types of Jargon  Technical Jargon  Specialized terms of a technical field.  Business Slang  Terms, sometimes borrowed from a technical field, but used in a more general sense in business.  Businessese  Out-of-date terms or phrases you should avoid.

9. 15-7 Commonly Confused Words  Accept/Except  Affect/Effect  A lot/Allot  Among/Between  Compose/ Comprise  Fewer/Less  It’s/Its  Stationary/ Stationery  To/Two/Too  Your/You’re