WORD CHOICE

Word Choice

Use “fresh” words that Use “fresh” words that aren’t overused.aren’t overused.

Use metaphors, similes, Use metaphors, similes, personification, and personification, and analogiesanalogies

Use powerful action Use powerful action verbsverbs

Use words that create a Use words that create a mental picture for the mental picture for the readerreader

Limit clichés and slangLimit clichés and slang

Be conciseBe concise

Use words correctlyUse words correctly

Avoid repetition or Avoid repetition or redundancy redundancy

Applying Strong Verbs

Have I used action words?Have I used action words?

Did I stretch to get a better word—Did I stretch to get a better word—scurryscurry rather than rather than runrun??

Do my verbs give my writing punch and Do my verbs give my writing punch and pizzazz?pizzazz?

Did I avoid Did I avoid is, am, are, was, were, be, beingis, am, are, was, were, be, being, , and and beenbeen whenever I could? whenever I could?

Word Choice Is…

Word Choice Is…

Selecting Striking Words and Phrases

Did I try to use words that sound Did I try to use words that sound just rightjust right??

Did I try hyphenating several shorter words Did I try hyphenating several shorter words to make an interesting-sounding new word? to make an interesting-sounding new word?

Did I try putting words with the same sound Did I try putting words with the same sound together? together?

Did I read my piece aloud to find at least Did I read my piece aloud to find at least one or two moments I love?one or two moments I love?

Word Choice Is…

Word Choice Is…

Using Specific and Accurate Words

Have I used nouns and modifiers that help Have I used nouns and modifiers that help the reader see a picture?the reader see a picture?

Did I avoid using words that might confuse Did I avoid using words that might confuse the reader?the reader?

Did I try a new word, and if so, did I check to Did I try a new word, and if so, did I check to make sure I used it correctly?make sure I used it correctly?

Are these the best words that can be used?Are these the best words that can be used?

Word Choice Is…

Word Choice Is…

Choosing Words That Deepen Meaning

Did I choose words that show I really Did I choose words that show I really thought about them?thought about them?

Have I tried to use words without repeating Have I tried to use words without repeating myself?myself?

Do my words capture the reader’s Do my words capture the reader’s imagination?imagination?

Have I found the best way to express Have I found the best way to express myself?myself?

Word Choice Is…

Word Choice Is…

Words to Avoid•Fun

•Cool

•Exciting

•Enjoyable

•Kinda

•Probly

•Awesome

•Interesting

•Great

•Liked

•Stuff

•Heat

•Nice

•Funny

Example #1

Poor Word Choice:Poor Word Choice:

It was dark out.It was dark out.

Proper Word Choice:Proper Word Choice:

As Sarah walked through the woods she had to As Sarah walked through the woods she had to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, feeling in front of her with hands that she other, feeling in front of her with hands that she couldn’t even see. couldn’t even see.

Example #2Poor Word Choice:

The clown was really The clown was really scary. scary.

Proper Word Choice:

Kyle’s stomach dropped Kyle’s stomach dropped as the clown’s head as the clown’s head slowly turned towards slowly turned towards him, the light reflecting him, the light reflecting just enough to reveal a just enough to reveal a distorted face painted distorted face painted into a grimace. into a grimace.

Example #3

Poor Word Choice:Poor Word Choice:

The husband loves his wife. The husband loves his wife.

Proper Word Choice:Proper Word Choice:

As his wife spoke, her husband gently brushed As his wife spoke, her husband gently brushed her hair away from her face and gazed into her her hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes. eyes.

Example #4Poor Word Choice:Poor Word Choice:

Katherine felt bad for Katherine felt bad for what she had done.what she had done.

Proper Word Choice:Proper Word Choice:

Katherine hadn’t slept in Katherine hadn’t slept in days. Every time she days. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, closed her eyes to sleep, images of that night images of that night flickered on and off like a flickered on and off like a short circuit while waves short circuit while waves of guilt came with of guilt came with nauseanausea

Example #5

Poor Word Choice:Poor Word Choice:

Mark saw a cut-off hand on the ground.Mark saw a cut-off hand on the ground.

Proper Word Choice:Proper Word Choice:

As Mark looked down at the concrete sprinkled As Mark looked down at the concrete sprinkled with fresh rain, his eyes fixed on five fingers with fresh rain, his eyes fixed on five fingers connected to a severed hand seeming to point connected to a severed hand seeming to point him towards the cemetery gates in the distance. him towards the cemetery gates in the distance.

You choose!

The girl looked nice. The girl looked nice.

The girl smiled broadly, greeting me as though The girl smiled broadly, greeting me as though we were best friends. Her warm handshake we were best friends. Her warm handshake comforted me and I knew we would soon be comforted me and I knew we would soon be the best of friends. the best of friends.

You choose!

A white frost covered the dark earth, the frigid A white frost covered the dark earth, the frigid air blowing every which way. air blowing every which way.

It was very cold outside. It was very cold outside.

You choose!

The old house smelled bad.The old house smelled bad.

A putrid smell entered Diana’s nostrils and she A putrid smell entered Diana’s nostrils and she was forced to plug her nose as she opened the was forced to plug her nose as she opened the door to rickety, abandoned house that had not door to rickety, abandoned house that had not been entered for years. been entered for years.

Create your own!

The man went down the street.The man went down the street.

She cooked a dessert.She cooked a dessert.

The teacher said something to the four boys. The teacher said something to the four boys.

Class Activity

The teacher will number you into six different The teacher will number you into six different groups.groups.

Each group will get a different picture. Each group will get a different picture.

The group will then write a descriptive paragraph The group will then write a descriptive paragraph for the picture they were assigned. for the picture they were assigned.

Each group should be able to guess which picture Each group should be able to guess which picture you were assigned based on the paragraph you you were assigned based on the paragraph you read aloud. read aloud.