As readers we know how annoying it can be to keep reading repeated words and phrases. Choosing substitute words though can sometimes be a little tricky. A thesaurus can also ensure that you are using the right word; substitute the word in question with a synonym from the thesaurus (most computer word processing programs have them as well) and then read the sentence – does it make sense?
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning, they can be substituted for each other and not change the meaning of the sentence. Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings like loud-quiet, yes-no, and soft-hard. Avoid using a synonym if you don’t know what the word means.
Many writers will use a thesaurus to find a fresh word instead of repeating the same ones over and over. Countless writers will utilize a thesaurus to substitute a different word instead of saying the identical word again. The two receding sentences have the same meaning after substituting some of the words with the help pf a thesaurus.
(You might remember doing that in junior high school when you didn’t want the teacher to recognize the words from a reference book…)
While a dictionary is filled with definitions, the meanings of individual words, a thesaurus if filled with works that have identical or similar meanings. A thesaurus also includes a list of words with opposite meanings.
The written words, ideally, should flow easily. A reader shouldn’t feel as if they are reading the same thing repeatedly. Add variety and interest to your writing by using synonyms and “mixing it up” a little. Try to vary At the same time, be cautious that your words lose their natural sound. A common mistake some writers make in everything from resumes to business letters to prose is to try to sound more “intelligent” by using an endless supply of “big” words.
K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simply Simple. Remember that if you make a reader stop every few words to look up a definition, you will quickly lose their interest. Don’t use long, convoluted and difficult words just to impress. Keep your writing clean and easy to understand. Don’t use words simply because they sound imposing. Read your sentences aloud to see if they sound natural. Make sure of the meaning of the word you’ve chosen, look it up in a dictionary or a thesaurus.
If you are writing dialogue in your novel, you can give a character a favorite word or two that only they use and add a distinctive personality. If you are going to use “big word” substitutes, make sure that the words are something that character would realistically use. For instance, a college professor may use more complex words than a newspaper delivery boy who is still in school.
You can add even more distinction to a character if they use a consistent form of speech, even if it means “mis-representing” the word just a bit. Make sure that the chosen word sounds true to the character’s position, age, status and education.
Writing exercise:
Choose the word that doesn’t belong in each group:
- admission – declaration – statement – communion – confession
- amusement – enjoyment – glee – ennui – pleasure
- clever – intelligent – intellectual – smart –impression
- concern – compassion – consideration – empathy – compunction
- discourse – discussion – dissertation – dialogue – desolate
- equilibrium – equal – steadiness – balance – stability
- fidelity - duplicity - - betrayal – treachery – disloyalty
- humility – mortification - embarrassment - shame –humiliation
- implement – enforce – persuasive – employ – utilize
- officially – formerly - properly – accurately – formally
answers: [1.communion –2. ennui – 3.impression –4. compunction – 5.desolate – 6.equal –7. fidelity – 8.humility –9.persuasive -10. formerly]
Writing Prompt:
Finish the thought for each of the following:
1) Hey, did you hear about the scorpion on the plane? Well, you should have been with me on that flight home when…
2) Everyone jokes that the meat shouldn’t still be moo-ing at you when you are eating. Imagine how surprised I was at that barbecue when…
3) When he said he bought a rock for her finger, I thought he was talking about an engagement ring. All I could say when she showed it to me was…
