Another Way Of Saying Diction

Words to Describe Diction Header Image

When yous're reading a 70,000-word novel, you probably don't requite much attention to every unmarried word that'southward on a folio. Almost likely, yous focus on the bigger picture, trying to absorb the plot or the overall message.

Just an author's discussion choice, or diction, can really have a profound impact on the overall feel of a story or slice of nonfiction.

How Would Yous Describe Wording?

Diction refers to a writer'southward purposeful discussion choice. Forth with syntax, diction tin be used to create tone and imagery in creative writing.

Retrieve nearly your writing'southward purpose and the bulletin you want to convey. Naturally, your choice of words for a persuasive slice will exist quite unlike from a poem about heartbreak.

Do you desire your readers to be moved? Convinced? Entertained? Frightened? Reminded of their childhoods?

You can elicit any of these reactions from an audience if you choose the correct words.

Types of Diction

At that place are many ways to describe wording, from discrete to poetic, plain to pedantic—but most types of diction by and large fall nether one of the four broader categories that follow:

Formal Diction

Formal diction should be employed when you wish to maintain a professional demeanor while keeping the situation impersonal.

When using formal diction, always remember to use proper grammer and speak in the 3rd person whenever possible.

It is appropriate to use this type of diction in business letters, research papers, cover letters, and other professional person situations.

Case of Formal Diction:

Your thesis argument in a inquiry paper might read something similar, "Strange linguistic communication educational activity should be required in all uncomplicated schools because learning a 2d language improves memory, leads to greater job opportunities, and fosters more tolerant attitudes."

Informal Wording

Informal or casual wording is best used in informal situations, such as messages between friends or when writing literature.

You might use this kind of wording when writing emails or letters to friends and family, sending text messages, or crafting dialogue for your novel.

Example of Breezy Diction:

In an email to a friend, yous write: "Hullo Kathy, just wanted to see you how you're doing. Wanna catch dinner this Friday? Let me know!"

Colloquial Diction

Colloquial diction utilizes words from everyday spoken communication, which can vary across regions or groups of people. This type of diction is common in dialogue, since information technology tin can make a piece of work more than realistic and relatable.

Examples of Colloquial Wording:

Across the United States, a carbonated beverage may be referred to as "soda," "pop," "soft drink," or "Coke," depending on the region where i resides. Another example: What is known equally "soccer" in the U.S. is referred to as "football" in England.

Slang

Slang words are ordinarily used inside certain social groups and tend to change with time.

Examples of Slang:

"Rad," "great," "hip," "salty," "woke," "YOLO"

Words to Describe Diction

In addition to the four well-nigh common types, there are dozens of adjectives that can describe a writer's diction.

When describing diction, however, recollect that it is not quite the same as tone (although some of the adjectives you use for one could apply to the other).

27 Words to Describe Diction

Abstruse	General, conceptual; contrary of concrete.
Ambiguous	Open to interpretation; lacking obvious meaning.
Antique	Old-fashioned, rarely used.
Cacophonous	Producing a harsh, unpleasant mix of sounds.
Concrete	Specific, clearly definable; opposite of abstract.
Convoluted	Complex, difficult to follow.
Denotative	Contains an exact significant; not open to interpretation.
Didactic	Instructional; intended to teach.
Elevated	Complex words, creates a superior tone.
Euphemistic	Polite substitute for a less polite word; sometimes insincere.
Euphonious	Pleasant sounding; contrary of cacophonous.
Emotional	Expresses emotions.
Figurative	Words illustrate an image or another idea.
Idiomatic	Denotes expressions that are natural to a native speaker.
Jargon	Words specific to a profession.
Moralistic	Righteous; aims to impose morals.
Ordinary	Mutual, everyday words.
Passionate	Carrying potent feelings or beliefs.
Pedantic	Scholastic, intended to lecture.
Plain	Clear, obvious.
Poetic	Melodious, imaginative, romantic.
Pretentious	Pompous, big-headed, inflated.
Scholarly	Words specific to a study or field.
Sharp	Harsh, pointed, targeted.
Simple	Clear, brusk, easy.
Vivid	Animated, total of life.
Vulgar	Tasteless, fibroid, offensive.

Evaluating word choice is a bit more objective task than evaluating tone, since tone is reflective of a speaker's attitude or feelings toward a subject.

As a consequence, there are typically more than options for describing tone, from appreciative to condescending, joyful to patronizing.

Download our list of 27 words to depict diction, forth with definitions and explanations of each descriptor. You might find information technology helpful to compare it with 101 adjectives to describe tone.

Diction Examples from Literature

Although diction is also of import in nonfiction, your choice of words tin take a huge bear upon on how your story or poem is read by audiences.

The following examples illustrate the event that advisedly-employed wording can accept on a text.

From Middle of Darkness past Joseph Conrad

"The sunday set; the dusk fell on the stream, and the lights began to announced along the shore. The Chapman lighthouse, a three-legged affair erect on a mud-flat, shone strongly. Lights of ships moved in the fairway—a great stir of lights going up and going down. And farther west on the upper reaches the place of the monstrous town was however marked ominously on the sky, a brooding gloom in sunshine, a lurid glare under the stars."

The diction in Center of Darkness falls under the formal category, as Conrad rarely utilizes informal language, even when information technology comes to dialogue or interactions.

Exist careful not to misfile diction with tone—the tone throughout Eye of Darkness tin be described as eerie, melancholic, or night, just these words practise not describe diction. Rather, they characterize the feelings that are evoked as a result of diction and imagery.

From The Adventures of Blueberry Finn by Marker Twain

"Only I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the residuum, because Aunt Sally she's going to prefer me and sivilize me, and I tin can't stand up information technology. I been there before."

The breezy, provincial wording in Huck Finn oft includes regional colloquialisms to characterize Huck as a elementary, uneducated character, although the underlying meaning of the story is much more than advanced.

Imagine how differently this novel would read if Twain used the aforementioned formal diction as Joseph Conrad—it would be an entirely different book!

From The Schoolhouse by Donald Barthelme

"And the trees all died. They were orange trees. I don't know why they died, they simply died. Something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff nosotros got from the nursery wasn't the best. Nosotros complained about it. So we've got thirty kids there, each kid had his or her own little tree to institute and we've got these xxx expressionless trees. All these kids looking at these little brown sticks, it was depressing."

The diction in this extract is simple and breezy, just the word option lends itself to a gloomy, melancholic tone.

Purpose of Diction

Your discussion choice can aid found the mood, tone, and temper of your text, which volition decide the kind of feel your readers will have.

Furthermore, each word might carry multiple meanings, specially when literary devices like metaphors or other literary devices are employed.

Choosing your words carefully isn't the only thing y'all tin practise to artistically convey meaning.

Diction has a close relationship with syntax, or the way your chosen words are arranged. Together, they can create vivid imagery, rhythm, and tone.

The type of wording yous use should depend on your audience and your objective.

Choose Your Words Carefully

Your choice between one word and another may seem like a minuscule decision in the moment, but information technology can actually have a pretty pregnant impact on how entire sentences, paragraphs, or capacity read as a whole.

Take time to carefully think most the diction you want to convey with your writing, because the result can impact the tone and overall experience of your work.

Exercise yous accept whatsoever favorite examples of diction in literature? Share them with us in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this mail service, and so yous might also like:

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As a blog author for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and artistic minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, just her truthful passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending fourth dimension with her family.