Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [vocabulary]

This tag should be used for questions that deal with different aspects of a writers' vocabulary, such as asking for techniques to expand one's own vocabulary, how to present the vocabulary of characters to the reader or how to check your own word usage so that you don't repeat yourself too often.

This tag should be used for questions that deal with different aspects of a writers' vocabulary, such as asking for s to expand one's own vocabulary, how to present the vocabulary of characters to the reader as part of the or how to check your own word usage so that you don't repeat yourself too often as part of .

59 questions
17
votes
6 answers

How do I incorporate Vocabulary in my writing that I already know?

I seem to have this problem where I know a lot of words but can't always seem to think them up when I write an article or a story. I know the meaning of most of these words, but when I write, some everyday phrase or idiom comes to my mind first or I…
Rio1210
  • 271
  • 2
  • 5
9
votes
10 answers

Effective ways to enrich your active vocabulary?

I come across words like rectitude, like laudatory, like indigent, and being an experienced reader with a strong grasp on my native language, I know what they mean. They're words that I know. But they're not words I think of when I'm writing. I know…
temporary_user_name
  • 3,325
  • 6
  • 24
  • 41
9
votes
2 answers

How to use word frequency data?

I just found the 'word frequency' tool in Scrivener's text statistics, but so far all I've done with it is read down the list (it occasionally generates amusing sentences) and check that words like "puissant" haven't started multiplying. Is there a…
mkbk
  • 503
  • 3
  • 11
8
votes
3 answers

Where can I find a good vocabulary list?

I'd like to expand my vocabulary and already do several of the things recommended in the Tips for expanding my vocabulary question. In addition to that, I've been spending some time with a flashcard-like program I wrote and am looking for good…
Brandon
  • 435
  • 3
  • 8
6
votes
5 answers

How do authors gain strong familiarity with archaic and extremely rare words?

I keep thinking about this because I've lately been reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, and it's just ridiculous. I have to look up 1-2 words per sentence sometimes, something I'm only used to doing for Joyce. Apparently McCarthy is well…
temporary_user_name
  • 3,325
  • 6
  • 24
  • 41
2
votes
3 answers

How find an appropriate vocabulary

I'm a newbie reader and often find myself needing to open the dictionary at least once every few pages. Although I'm a newbie, my vocabulary is at least of an average proficiency so I wonder what it's like for the majority of readers, how much does…
el_pup_le
  • 131
  • 5
1
vote
3 answers

Looking for a verb that means "making something looks very simple by ignoring its complexity or details"

I'm looking for a verb that means "making something looks very simple by ignoring its complexity or details". Here is the text that I'm composing: "Reducing" complicated social problems to bad influence of media on “disturbed kids” is basically…
bman
  • 121
  • 6
1
vote
3 answers

A single, common English word to describe moving an event up early

I am working on building active voice and concision in my writing style. I must describe an event that may be moved up early from its current scheduling. The only word found that describes this concept is "Prepone." Obviously, this isn't a common…
user55039
  • 19
  • 1
1
vote
7 answers

How to improve my vocabulary to be a writer?

My vocabulary size right now is ~10000 words and I want my vocabulary to be as big as a professional writer, I want to have the ability to manipulate words. I mean SUPERIOR vocabulary.
FunnyBunnyModl
  • 11
  • 1
1
vote
2 answers

What is a polite way of saying someone is posh?

What's way of saying someone is posh that isn't rude? And without being over-aggrandising?
Austin
  • 11
  • 1
0
votes
4 answers

What is the best possible way to improve one's vocabulary?

During my highschool days, the subject of vocabulary had not been enforced or rather most students were lazy about expanding their vocabulary not until in the final year when our school principal asked to see our vocabulary book. I'm putting this…
Godwin Iyamba
  • 13
  • 1