How to Use Vocabulary in a Fresh Way

With a dash of imagination and a stretch of creativity, it is possible to improve a piece of writing by substituting key words.

Facts About the English Language

According to A Cure for the Common Word by K D Sullivan, the English language consists of over one million words if technical and scientific terms are included. The average person is familiar with roughly 20,000 of these words and in an average week will use about 2000 of them.

Reading Develops Vocabulary

Every writer has a unique style and uses words in different ways. Reading extensively exposes a person to a multitude of writing techniques and helps extend vocabulary and relevant usage.

Be Sure of Verbs, Nouns and Adjectives

As a writer, it is important to understand the categories and subcategories of words. Here is a basic summary but a book of grammar is an indispensible tool for a serious word smith:

• Noun - a word that refers to a person, place, thing, animal or idea
• Verb - a doing word that indicates an action, event or state
• Adjective - a word that expresses an attribute of something
• Pronoun - a word like I, me, you, he and him, that replaces a noun
• Adverb - the part of speech used to limit or describe the verb, adjective, or adverb it modifies
• Vocabulary - the set of words a person is familiar with in a language

Invest in a Thesaurus

Using a thesaurus is the lazy word to find alternate words. It is also a good starting place for writers who struggle to find the right adjective or noun. While this type of information is available on the internet, it is good to have a book version that can be carried around and used anytime, anyplace.

Use Words That Focus the Meaning

Avoid words that are generic and give vague descriptions as opposed to specific information. For example, the word nice, is bland and encompasses a whole array of other words. If used in a sentence, it doesn't really tell the reader anything:

• The girl wore a nice dress

Try substituting alternate words until finding one that really expresses the meaning:

• The girl wore a gorgeous dress
• The girl wore a frilly dress
• The girl wore a lacy dress
• The girl wore a flattering dress
• The girl wore a designer-brand dress

Developing a wide vocabulary is a choice and a lifelong process. For writers, it is a decision that will add color and depth to their work. Make it a daily habit to read something and look up any words that are unfamiliar. The results may take a few months to show but will pay off in the form of more polished, focused work.

Recommended reading: The Cure for the Common Word by K D Sullivan, McGraw-Hill Books, 2007.