Effective
writing requires the use of appropriate words and phrases, which can make a
great difference in the quality as well as the effectiveness of your writing.
Selecting
words with the right connotation and denotation
Denotation
is the precise meaning of a word; connotation is the association of
a word, which can be positive, negative, or neutral.
e.g. slender with
a positive connotation, suggesting “tall” and “thin”
e.g.
thin with a neutral connotation
e.g. skinny with
a negative connotation of being “too thin”
Using words in their
right parts of speech
e.g. occupational
hazard NOT occupation hazard (using noun
for an adjective)
e.g. sleep
well NOT sleep good (using an adjective
for an adverb)
Well,
not good, is generally used in a compound word to form a compound
adjective:
e.g. A
person who behaves well is well-behaved.
e.g. A
person with good intentions is well-intentioned.
e.g. A
person who speaks well is well-spoken.
BUT “a
person with good looks is good-looking.” (NOT well-looking,
possibly because well-looking may suggest “looking healthy”.
Using correct idioms
Idioms
are accepted expressions in the English language. They add elegance to your
writing. But incorrect idioms can make your writing look sloppy. The following
are examples of incorrect use of idioms:
e.g. according
to NOT according with
e.g. aptitude
for NOT aptitude toward
e.g. capable
of doing NOT capable to do
e.g. complain
to NOT complain with
e.g. comply
with NOT comply to
e.g. conclude
by saying NOT conclude in saying
e.g. conform
to or with NOT conform in
e.g. die
of NOT die from
e.g. different
from NOT different to or different than
e.g. every
now and then NOT ever now and then
e.g. except
for NOT excepting for
e.g. identical
with NOT identical to
e.g. in
accordance with NOT in accordance to
e.g. incapable
of doing NOT incapable to do
e.g. in
my opinion, NOT to my opinion
e.g. in
search of NOT in search for
e.g. in
sight into NOT in sight of
e.g. intend
to do NOT intend on doing
e.g.
in the year 2010 NOT in the year of 2010
e.g. on
the whole NOT on a whole
e.g. outlook
on life NOT outlook of life
e.g.
plan to do NOT plan on doing
e.g.
prior to NOT prior than
e.g. regardless
of NOT regardless to
e.g. relate
to NOT relate with
e.g. similar
to NOT similar with
e.g. super
to NOT superior than
e.g. try
to see NOT try and see
e.g. type
of NOT type of a
e.g. what
to do about this NOT what to do with this
Read my
book American Idioms for ESL Learners.
Stephen
Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
