Word Choice: Specific or General
As we learned in ESL002, a dictionary or thesaurus can be a helpful tool to learn about and use new vocabulary. Even professional writers need help with the meanings, spellings, pronunciations, and uses of particular words. In fact, they rely on dictionaries to help them write better. No one knows every word in the English language and its multiple uses and meanings, so all writers, from novices to professionals, can benefit from the use of dictionaries.
Using a Dictionary and Thesaurus
Most dictionaries provide the following information:
- Spelling. How the word and its different forms are spelled.
- Pronunciation. How to say the word.
- Part of speech. The function of the word.
- Definition. The meaning of the word.
- Synonyms. Words that have similar meanings.
- Etymology. The history of the word.
Look at the following sample dictionary entry to see which of the preceding information you can identify:
myth, n. [Gr. mythos, a word, a fable, a legend.] A fable or legend embodying the convictions of a people as to their gods or other divine beings, their own beginnings and early history and the heroes connected with it, or the origin of the world; any invented story; something or someone having no existence in fact. - myth • ic, myth • i • cal
Like a dictionary, a thesaurus is another indispensable writing tool. A thesaurus gives you a list of synonyms, words that have the same (or very close to the same) meaning as another word. It also lists antonyms, words with the opposite meaning of the word. A thesaurus will help you when you are looking for the perfect word with just the right meaning to convey your ideas. It will also help you learn more words and use the ones you already know more correctly. However, be careful to avoid choosing words from the thesaurus that don't fit the tone of your writing or whose meaning might not be a perfect fit for what you are trying to say.
General versus Specific Words
Almost anything can be described either in general words or in specific ones. General words and specific words are not opposites. General words cover a broader spectrum with a single word than specific words. Specific words narrow the scope of your writing by providing more details. For example, "car" is a general term that could be made more specific by writing "Honda Accord".
Specific words are a subset of general words. You can increase the clarity of your sentences by choosing specific words over general words. Specific words help your readers understand precisely what you mean. Here's an example of general and specific words in a sentence:
- General: She said, "I don't want you to go".
- Specific: She murmured, "I don't want you to go".
The words "said" and "murmured" are similar. They both are a form of verbal communication. However, "murmured" gives the sentence a different feeling from "said". Thus, as a writer or speaker, choosing specific words over general words can add a description to and change the mood of your sentences.
Using Specific Words
There's more to choosing the right word than just keeping in mind its connotative meaning. Specific words and images make your sentences more interesting to read. Whenever possible, avoid using overly general words; instead, try to replace general language with particular nouns, verbs, and modifiers that convey details and that bring your words to life. Add words that provide color, texture, sound, and even smell to your sentences.
Examples
- General: My new puppy is cute.
- Specific: My new puppy is a ball of white fuzz with the biggest black eyes I have ever seen.
- General: My teacher told us that plagiarism is bad.
- Specific: My teacher, Ms. Atwater, created a presentation detailing exactly how plagiarism is illegal and unethical.
Choose Strong, Descriptive Verbs
When used as main verbs, the following words are weak and almost meaningless: have, do, make, went/gone, and the "to be" verbs. Some of these verbs are just fine as linking verbs but not as main verbs. Choose a more descriptive verb to replace these weak, almost meaningless verbs.
This video will explain.
Now that we understand the difference between specific and general vocabulary, let's put this knowledge into practice.
Content adapted from:
Jenifer Kurtz, https://fsw.pressbooks.pub/enc1101/chapter/chapter-10-working-with-words-which-word-is-right/#wordchoice 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Boundless, https://quillbot.com/courses/introduction-to-college-level-writing/chapter/word-choice/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Prof Myhren, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urEh4_fTtao
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.