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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
Direct and accurate word choice is significant because:
1. It will reduce the wordiness of your sentences.
2. It will reduce the chance of someone misunderstanding your writing.
In this module, you will learn:
1. How to identify the best word choice for the meaning you are trying to
communicate.
2. Types of words to avoid in your writing.
1. Use a Thesaurus…and Then a Dictionary
1. A thesaurus can be your best friend when you’re struggling to find the best
word. Thesaurus.com is a quick way to search synonyms. This website
color-codes the list of synonyms according to their accuracy. Once you choose
a new word, check its meaning in a dictionary to be sure it’s the best choice.
Merriam-Webster.com also has online thesaurus and dictionary functions. We
use this website in Example 1.
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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Example 1: Use a thesaurus and dictionary to choose the best word
Weak:​
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak began Apple in 1976.
​
“Began” is not the best fit word in this sentence, so let’s try to find a better one. First
let’s use a thesaurus:
Merriam-Webster Thesaurus lists a number of synonyms and related words for “begin,”
but we think “found” is the best word. Let’s look it up to make sure:
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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This looks like a good fit for what we are trying to say, so let’s put it in the sentence:
Stronger:​
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak ​
​
co-founded​
Apple in 1976.
2. Know the Word’s Actual Meaning
1. Be careful with homonyms—words that sound the same but have different
meanings. There are two forms of homonyms:
a. Homophones, which sound the same but have different meanings and
different spellings. See the module titled “There, Their, or They’re? Common
Word Mix-Ups” to learn more about homophones.
b. Homographs, which are spelled the same but sound different and have
different meanings.
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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Example 2: Understand homophones and homographs
Homophones:
The pod of orca whales was spotted 100 yards from the ​
pier​
.
If you ​
peer​
into the horizon you might see the pod of orca whales surface.
Homographs:
To better record the wildebeest’s vocalizations, we placed the recorder as ​
close​
as possible.
The researchers were careful to ​
close​
the the fume hood as the reaction progressed through
stage 2.
2. In common speech, sometimes words begin to drift away from their actual
meaning. These words have connotations that are lost by common usage, but
when written in a paper should remain true to their primary definitions to avoid
confusion.
Example 3: Know a word’s actual meaning
“Poignant”
Many times “poignant” is used to mean “pointed” or “impactful,” which is its secondary
meaning. The primary definition of poignant has a connotation of sadness and emotional
impact. Therefore you would not want to write:
Weak:​
“The ​
​
poignant ​
speech left Julia feeling excited for the future of pharmaceutical
research,” because “poignant” and “excited” don’t make sense when used with this relation
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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to each other. Instead you could say:
Stronger:​
“The ​
​
poignant ​
speech left Julia feeling concerned yet hopeful about the future of
pharmaceutical research.”
3. Choose the Strongest Verb
1. Strong verbs will give your writing more impact.
2. Use actions verbs.
3. Use interesting verbs. BUT, if there are already accepted terms for what you are
trying to say then use that language. Getting creative here would probably just
confuse other experts in the field who will wonder why you didn’t use the proper
term.
4. See The University of Wisconsin’s great list of action verbs and descriptive
words.
Example 4: Interesting action verbs
run → scurry​
raise → elevate​
​
spin → centrifuge​
​
separated → extracted​
​
won → defeated
​
Example 5: Combining a descriptive adjective with an action verb
Weak:​
We ​
​
used​
the materials on hand even though they were not the best option for the
project.
“Used” works here, but it is lackluster.
Stronger:​
We ​
​
creatively utilized ​
the materials on hand even though they were not the best
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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option for the project.
“Creatively utilized” evokes a more exciting process of imagination and collaboration.
4. Know When to Use a Pronoun
1. Use a pronoun only when you have already stated the noun in the sentence. So
do not say “she” if you haven’t already established who “she” is.
Example 6: When to use a pronoun
Weak:​
It ​
​
reached maximum speed six seconds before its engine burned out.
Stronger:​
The prototype ​
​
reached maximum speed six seconds before its engine burned out.
2. You can go even further and use the specific word for a noun.
Example 7: Use specific nouns
Weak:​
The​
​
cow​
jumped over the moon
Stronger:​
The​
​
Holstein cow​
jumped over the moon.
3. The singularity or plurality of the pronoun needs to match the noun that
you use.
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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Example 8: Match pronouns to their coordinating nouns
Incorrect:​
The discrepancy in the data indicate its uselessness for this clinical report.
​
Data is a plural word so the pronoun needs to be plural as well.
Corrected:​
The discrepancy in the data indicate their uselessness for this clinical report.
​
We pluralized the pronoun by using “their.”
Incorrect:​
The first thing an athlete should do is stretch their muscles.
​
“An athlete” refers to a singular person so the corresponding pronoun needs to be singular as
well.
Corrected:​
The first thing an athlete should do is stretch his or her muscles.
​
“His or her” refer to singular people which matches the singularity of “an athlete.”
5. Avoid Using Clichés
1. Cliché phrases are often wordy and almost never appropriate for scientific
writing. They might be more acceptable for social sciences, liberal arts, and
humanities, but use them judiciously. They are usually just ignored by readers.
Example 9: Avoid clichés
Weak:​
This combination of reactants provides the researcher with the ​
​
best of both worlds​
.
Stronger:​
This combination of reactants provides the researchers with ​
​
two benefits​
; it created
a safer reaction and the reactants were easily purchased.
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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6. Avoid Using Jargon
1. Jargon is usually unnecessary and hides your meaning behind onerous
language.
Example 10: Avoid jargon
Weak:​
We postulate that a ​
​
multi-episodic dialogical interaction ​
would alleviate the polemic
opinions on the matter.
Stronger:​
We believe that a​
​
series of open dialogues ​
would reduce the conflicting opinions
on the matter.
7. Be Concise
1. Conciseness refers to using the fewest number of words possible.
2. If it is possible to reduce two words into one new word, do it.
Example 11: Use concise words to limit wordiness
Weak:​
Shakespeare’s sonnets are​
​
romantic​
and ​
dream-like​
.
Stronger:​
Shakespeare’s sonnets are​
​
enchanting​
.
3. Avoid flowery language
Example 12: Improve conciseness by removing flowery language
Weak:​
Due to the fact that the arts are dwindling in popularity as college majors, we posit the
​
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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notion that they should be emphasized in secondary school.
“Due to the fact that,” “dwindling,” and “we posit the notion that” are all flowery language
that bury the sentence in wordiness.
Stronger:​
Because the arts represent less popular college majors, they should be
​
emphasized in secondary school.
This sentence is more concise because it states the point in fewer words.
4. Avoid using forms of “to be” whenever possible. These include “is, am, are, was,
were, being, been, have.” They are usually unnecessary and make the sentence
passive.
Example 12: Avoid “to be”
Weak:​
We ​
​
were cleaning​
the house all day.
Stronger:​
We ​
​
cleaned​
the house all day.
​
8. Use Explanatory Words
1. Instead of using a vague word like “important” or interesting,” explain what is
important or interesting.
Example 13: Use explanatory words
Weak:​
Sunlight is an ​
​
important ​
part of plant survival.
Stronger:​
Sunlight​
​
stimulates the process of photosynthesis​
, which is essential for plant
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Choosing Direct and Accurate Words
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survival.
Sources and Additional Resources:
1. List of Similar Words and Their Meanings
2. UNC Writing Center: Word Choice
3. University of Wisconsin: Action and Descriptive Verbs