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Learning another language has always been my portal to understanding the nuances of my own language, American English. Currently, I am trying to learn European Portuguese to add to my faltering French and German. It is a very slow process but still appeals to my word nerdiness that I attribute to my Latin classes in high school.

In reviewing books and many other types of media, my most frequent complaint is when the writers are lazy with their word usage. Not punctuation. Not verb agreement. Not even when the writers are being pedantic. What makes me twitch the most is Lazy Word CHOICE!

An image of Scrabble Tiles spelling out the word "Word"

Not that the words must be sesquipedalian. (Definition at the end of the post.)

For example, the word PERFECT.

Would any of these words below be a better fit than “perfect” for conveying your thoughts with a more exact meaning? 

  • impeccable
  • without fault
  • flawless
  • faultless (slightly different than flawless)
  • incomparable
  • sublime
  • ideal
  • the best
  • shiny new
  • perfection
  • absolutely

None of the words above are sesquipedalian (ahem), but they do have slightly different connotations to convey your thoughts more exactly, don’t they?

And now, as promised, the definition of sesquipedalia: very long words.

Sesquipedalian: a person who uses big words to sound smart.

Even though Diane Garland and I are lexicomanes, I hope that we do not come across as sesquipedalian. However, no one would accuse me of being pauciloquent.

Lexicomane: lover of dictionaries

Pauciloquent: using few words in speech or conversation

The main point is that as a writer, you do not want to bumfuzzle your readers or listeners.

Bumfuzzle: confuse, perplex, fluster

To bring this diverting (aka fun, I hope) post to a close, I would like to share some words that I read in a business journal that are supposed to make you sound smarter. However, their synonyms might work better in your works. It depends. Right? Right! Or as my friend with whom English is a second language admonishes me to say, “Correct? Correct!” instead of right—especially when giving directions.

  • articulate (well-spoken)
  • accolades (kudos)
  • brevity (concise)
  • adulation  (excessive flattery)
  • anomaly (odd)
  • pithy (brief, clever remark)
  • lucid (clear and intelligible)
  • bespoke (custom-made)
  • diatribe (rant)
  • vitriolic (nasty, scathing comment or action)
  • aplomb (confidence)
  • resplendent (shining brilliantly)

Do you have some words that you would love to share or ones that you think should be abolished (scrapped) from the English language? Let me know!

REMINDER to WRITE FAST and EDIT SLOW

And remember to not worry about word choice when you are creating your first or second draft.

WRITE FAST!

Edit Slow!

Handy link to our Write Fast, Edit Slow post with a practice exercise. 

Word choice editing comes after you get your story’s first or second draft draft down in words from the “mindfilm” that you experience when you are creating a work.

I do hope that you have enjoyed reading this post at least half as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time,

Keep on Writing! Kiffer

Chanticleer Editorial Services – when you are ready

Did you know that Chanticleer offers editorial services? We do and have been doing so since 2011.

Tools of the Editing Trade

Our professional editors are top-notch and are experts in the Chicago Manual of Style. They have and are working for the top publishing houses (TOR, McMillian, Thomas Mercer, Penguin Random House, Simon Schuster, etc.).

If you would like more information, we invite you to email Kiffer at KBrown@ChantiReviews.com  for more information, testimonials, and fees.

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