Figuring out how to choose the right word is probably only the second most difficult writing trait to master (right after ideas). Your word choice is a crucial part of your writing that directly correlates with your readers’ reactions to your content.
Sure, you could have a spectacular idea, but without the appropriate words, you’re not going to strike your audience. So what exactly can you do to polish your word choice and boost the quality of your content? Hint: You’re not going to need a thesaurus for this.
1. Identify Weak and Repetitive Phrases
The very first step in the process is pinpointing which phrases you want to change, although it’s sometimes difficult to narrow down the words that need a makeover. For simplicity, focus on marking words that you use too often, that weigh down your sentence, or that just feel awkward.
How can you identify these phrases?
1. Read your draft out loud. This helps you hear the inconsistencies rather than just seeing them.
2. Look specifically for weak phrases you suspect you’re using, such as stuff, things, got, suddenly, it, etc.
3. Use CTRL+F in your document to see how often you use specific words, and consider highlighting a few for modification.
2. Brainstorm Alternatives
Brainstorming fresh ideas for stronger and less repetitive phrases doesn’t always have to come down to flipping through the thesaurus. Instead, keep a notepad with you and write down interesting words when you come across them, such as while reading or in everyday conversation. Once you’re ready to edit your draft, you’ll already have some alternatives prepared.
Another great idea for brainstorming is to completely remove the word from your sentence, leaving a visual blank in your document. Reread the sentence without it, then decide what might make sense to fill in the blank.
3. Aim for an Emotional Response
Now that you have a list of ideas, it’s time to pick out the strongest alternative. Your focus here is to decide on the word or phrase that will elicit the desired emotional response from your readers. What are you really trying to say? Even a word that seems strong might not be the best choice within your content.
Example:
I look at him, unable to tear my gaze from his face.
“Look” isn’t the best word in this sentence. If I choose the word “glare,” the readers become more in tune with the emotion of the piece, which in this case sets an angry tone. Perhaps the man in this sentence has done something wrong.
I glare at him, unable to tear my gaze from his face.
Of course, if I choose a positive alternative, such as “gawk,” the emotion completely shifts to one of amazement. Perhaps the man is good-looking!
I gawk at him, unable to tear my gaze from his face.
Although the words are all similar, the entire tone of the work has been transformed, simply because we focused on how our choices will emotionally affect the reader. Make sure you don’t sacrifice your message for the sake of stronger words.
4. Get Specific
One simple way to polish your word choice is to get down to the specifics. For example, if you find yourself using the word “soda” too much, you can make a quick fix by letting your reader know what kind of soda.
Example:
Anna sipped on her soda.
Or
Anna sipped on her Pepsi.
It’s a slight change that can paint a clear picture while avoiding repetition.
5. Don’t Settle
I understand how this goes. You wrack your brain until you don’t believe there’s an alternative, so you settle on your initial idea. Settling on a phrase because you can’t come up with a better one is not going to push your writing any further. Instead, mark the phrase and come back to it later. This gives you time to search for inspiration and clear your mind so you’ll have a better alternative once you return.
This is not to say that you should never use a thesaurus again, but as much as writers glorify a great thesaurus, it’s not always the solution.
Tell me your opinion: What do you do to improve your word choices?
