As you've seen, the precise words you choose when you write depend a great deal on your purpose for writing. If you want to make your topic look good, you select words that carry positive connotations, instead of words that are nuanced more negatively. If you want to seem professional rather than playful, you'll choose words with nuances that create a more objective tone.
Use the questions below to practice selecting the best nuance for a particular purpose. First, read each sentence carefully, and decide what the purpose of the writing is. Then, from each pair of words given, choose the word with the meaning that best fits the context of the sentence.
Under magnification, the drop of pond water revealed numerous _____ creatures engaged in the business of their lives.
- microscopic
- teensy
The sentence has a formal, scientific tone, so the more formal term fits better.
The sentence has a formal, scientific tone, so the more formal term fits better.
It was a pearl! A _____ pearl that almost glowed in the palm of his hand.
- shiny
- lustrous
The sentence states that the pearl "almost glowed," so the word that fits better should suggest a sheen or glow rather than a metallic shine.
The sentence states that the pearl "almost glowed," so the word that fits better should suggest a sheen or glow rather than a metallic shine.
Was it hopeless? What could one old man in a simple rowboat do against the _____ waves?
- towering
- frightening
The author of this sentence wants to help readers imagine a scene vividly.
The author of this sentence wants to help readers imagine a scene vividly.
Through the dense fog, the whistle of the train _____ like a frightened child.
- cried
- wailed
The word that adds to the eerie feeling of the scene is the better choice.
The word that adds to the eerie feeling of the scene is the better choice.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
