{"id":634,"date":"2009-11-03T06:18:25","date_gmt":"2009-11-03T14:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=634"},"modified":"2009-11-03T06:19:22","modified_gmt":"2009-11-03T14:19:22","slug":"vary-your-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=634","title":{"rendered":"Vary Your Vocabulary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you take those tests in Reader\u2019s Digest Ma<\/em>gazine that are designed to help you improve your vocabulary? Do you strive to learn a word-a-day by using it in your communication? I remember when this was a common practice for writers and those who wanted to be a more skilled conversationalists. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t hear or read so much about the various exercises designed to help you increase your vocabulary, these days. I guess we\u2019re so busy trying to be somebody and attempting to make a difference through doing, that we don\u2019t tend to focus down on this type of pointed self-improvement. <\/p>\n

I urge you to consider increasing your vocabulary when it comes to writing articles or a book manuscript. And I don\u2019t mean that you should build a huge vocabulary that includes a lot of obscure words. I\u2019ve actually met authors who believe that the more big words they use in their writing, the more they will impress a publisher or their audience. Not so. Oh, if you are writing a scholarly book for a select group of highly educated professors, maybe so. But if you are writing for a segment of the general public, telling your story or relating your information using obscure words will not impress them; it will turn them off. But you do need an arsenal of synonyms if you want to make your writing more interesting. <\/p>\n

A common trend I see among authors is the tendency to repeat words rather than searching for a synonym (or a like word). Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n

Don took his dog to the dog park where he romped and played with other dogs. Some of the dogs were on leashes, but they weren\u2019t inclined to make friends as easily as those dogs that were free to roam. Don\u2019s dog spent most of his time romping and playing with a small wooly dog.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is kind of boring, don\u2019t you think? Try this to liven it up:<\/p>\n

Don lead Marshmallow into the enclosed dog park and the young poodle quickly found Lucky, a Pekinese mix, to romp and play with. Most of the dogs were allowed to roam free, but a few reluctant owners kept their pets leashed. Those that were restrained seemed more aggressive than the others. There\u2019s a psychology to that, I guess.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another one:<\/p>\n

Nathan was eager to find a date for the prom. All of his friends had dates. Some of them were taking their steady girlfriends, others just found random girls to date just for that one evening. He wondered if Susan would be his date. She seemed nice enough and he doubted that she dated much, so probably wasn\u2019t taken. Nathan wasn\u2019t used to dating. In fact, this would be his first date.<\/em><\/p>\n

Or:<\/p>\n

Nathan was eager to find a date for the prom. All of the other guys on his team were going. Some of them were taking their steady girlfriends, others found random girls to take. He wondered if Susan would go with him. She seemed nice enough and he doubted that she had a beau. Nathan didn\u2019t go out much. In fact, this would be his first such experience.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the same paragraph without all of the instances of \u201cdate,\u201d \u201cdating\u201d and \u201cdated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, go look at the article, story or book manuscript you\u2019re working on. Do you have instances where you\u2019ve repeated words? Make it your project this week to change some of these words so that your writing has more variety. <\/p>\n

How do you come up with new words?<\/p>\n

\u2022\tUse your thesaurus.
\n\u2022\tUse your brain\u2014brainstorm.
\n\u2022\tListen when conversing with others.
\n\u2022\tPractice using new words.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you take those tests in Reader\u2019s Digest Magazine that are designed to help you improve your vocabulary? Do you strive to learn a word-a-day by using it in your communication? I remember when this was a common practice for writers and those who wanted to be a more skilled conversationalists. I don\u2019t hear or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t