Diction: Word Choice“The difference between the right word and almost the right word is

like the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”

~Mark Twain

Ways to Characterize Diction

Think about these sentences:

The respite from my study was devoted to a sojourn at the ancestral mansion.

I spent my vacation at the house of my grandparents.

I endeavored to peruse the volume.I tried to read the book.

Ways to Characterize Diction Monosyllabic

Anglo-Saxon One syllable Ex: cat, fire

Polysyllabic Norman/Latin Many syllables Ex: feline,

conflagration

The higher the ratio of polysyllabic words, the more difficult the content. It also makes the work seem more pompous and stuck up.

Ways to Characterize Diction Formal –

germ, relatives, position, child, superior, communicate

Informal – bug, folks, job, kid, boss, get across

Examples: He’s nuts (slang) He’s insane (informal) He’s schizophrenic (formal)

Ways to Characterize Diction Denotative

(referential/dictionary meaning) public servant, financier, law officer, legislative consultant, investigator, soldier of fortune

Connotative (emotive/hidden meaning) bureaucrat, speculator, cop, lobbyist, spy, hired killer

Ways to Characterize Diction General

look Walk Sit Cry Throw

Specific Gaze, stare, peer, squint, ogle Stride, slink, trot, shuffle, drag Slump, squat, lounge, hunch Weep, sob, sigh, bawl, blubber Hurl, pitch, toss, dump, flip

Ways to Characterize Diction Abstract – unclear terms such as “good” Concrete – more specific terms, “devoted

father”

Jargon – appropriate to certain populations

Euphonious – pleasant sounds (butterfly) Cacophonous – harsh sounds (pus)

Describing Diction – Other words

Pedantic (overly concerned with minute details)

Euphemistic Pretentious

(exaggerated importance)

Sensuous Exact Cultured Plain Literal Colloquial Artificial Detached

Slang Idiomatic Esoteric (secret) Symbolic Simple Figurative Bombastic

(pretentious) Abstruse Grotesque Poetic Moralistic Precise

Vulgar (lack of good breeding or taste)

Scholarly Insipid (without

interesting qualitie Learned Picturesque Homespun Provincial (rustic,

narrow, illiberal) Trite Obscure