WORD CHOICE

Word Choice

Use “fresh” words that aren’t overused.

Use metaphors, similes, personification, and analogies

Use powerful action verbs

Use words that create a mental picture for the reader

Limit clichés and slang

Be concise

Use words correctly

Avoid repetition or redundancy

Applying Strong Verbs

Have I used action words?

Did I stretch to get a better word—scurry rather than run?

Do my verbs give my writing punch and pizzazz?

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

Word Choice Is…

Selecting Striking Words and Phrases

Did I try to use words that sound just right?

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

Did I try putting words with the same sound together?

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

Word Choice Is…

Using Specific and Accurate Words

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

Did I avoid using words that might confuse the reader?

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

Are these the best words that can be used?

Word Choice Is…

Choosing Words That Deepen Meaning

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

Have I tried to use words without repeating myself?

Do my words capture the reader’s imagination?

Have I found the best way to express myself?

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:

It was dark out.

Strong Word Choice:

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

Example #2Poor Word Choice:

The clown was really scary.

Strong Word Choice:

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

Example #3

Poor Word Choice:

The husband loves his wife.

Strong Word Choice:

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

Example #4Poor Word Choice:

Katherine felt bad for what she had done.

Strong Word Choice:

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

Example #5

Poor Word Choice:

Mark saw a cut-off hand on the ground.

Strong Word Choice:

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

You choose!

The girl looked nice.

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

You choose!

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

It was very cold outside.

You choose!

The old house smelled bad.

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

Create your own!

The man went down the street.

She cooked a dessert.

The teacher said something to the four boys.

Class Activity

The teacher will number you into six different groups.

Each group will get a different picture.

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

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