Precise Words

Use them!

The right word is the one that says exactly what you mean to say, nothing more, nothing less.

Inexperienced writers sometimes confuse big words for precise words. Or they search a thesaurus to find a fresh word, but often end up using words they don't understand in strange ways.

Science majors sometimes confuse which words need to be defined for a general audience and which words are already understood.

Business majors sometimes use words that convey arrogance or impatience, when more neutral, objective words would be appropriate.

Precise words take time to think of. Most writers who use vague or inappropriate words are simply too impatient to think of the right word. Instead, they throw in a "sort of right" word like "thing", "factors", "areas" or phrases like "a number of."

Note your own writing. What words and phrases do you use when you're too hurried or impatient to think of the precise word?

Some examples illustrate the errors inexperienced writers make with word choice. Other examples showcase student and professional writers who took pains to use precise words.

Examples

Exercises