You can improve your writing with snappier words, without going to a lot of trouble. Experts advise writing plainly, in order to be understood by readers. Writing plainly doesn’t have to mean using boring words.
Most people use about 3,000 words in their active vocabulary, but they know the meaning of many more. Why don’t they use more words in their everyday speech and writing? Perhaps it’s easier, and certainly it’s habit.
Incorporating a wider variety of words, without getting into obscure words, spices up writing and makes it more interesting. It also communicates more effectively, and effective communication is the goal, after all.
Improve your writing with snappier words
Here are some examples of ways to liven up sentences. It may be easier to write whatever comes in the first draft, and then replace some words when revising.
Tom walked down the hall, thinking about the work he had to do.
Tom zipped down the hall, thinking about the work he was going to tackle.
He was very sad.
He was despondent.
Alan ate his sandwich while playing a video game.
Alan devoured his sandwich while obliterating his video-game opponent.
Shana left the meeting because she didn’t like what the leader had to say.
Shana fled the meeting because she couldn’t listen to one more word out of that leader’s mouth.
Not every sentence needs to be snappy. When too much of a written piece is spiced up, that’s called overwriting, and it tires out a reader. Tiring a reader from overstimulation is almost as bad as boring a reader with dry prose. As with most things in life, one needs to strike a balance.
Used sparingly, Thesaurus.com is your friend.
How will you improve your writing with snappier words, without overdoing it?