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Strong word choice explains and develops your ideas. Use everyday words well. Use words that are specific and accurate, so the reader will be able to understand just what you mean.

There are four types of language that relate to word choice. They are: striking language, exact language, natural language, and beautiful language. Click on the links to learn more about the types of language:

Striking Language
Exact Language
Natural Language
Beautiful Language
Sentence Fluency

Striking Language
Striking language is descriptive language. This type of writing can be so strong that it can be as clear as a reader’s memory.

When you are writing descriptively, the more details you can write about, the better. Pretend your pet has wandered away from you. Write down every detail about your missing pet, so that others can help identify it, and return your pet if they see it. This description will include the kind of fur, the way the collar looks, color of the eyes, the way your pet moves, the way your pet might react to a stranger, the list could go on and on.

Some words you might use are:

fluffy

wet-nosed

sparkly

brownish-orange

deep red

frightened

There are times that descriptive writing may not be the best style to use, but as you practice writing, you will begin to see the difference. For instance, if you need to let your little brother or sister know that you want your privacy, you can just write a note that says: “Keep this door closed. I'm writing.” Descriptive writing may not make your message as clear: “This white, wooden portal-cover must be kept in the closed position. The silver door knob shall not be turned in either direction. Your oldest brother with brown hair is inside this large, rectangular room diligently writing his new 200 page novel.”

Exact Language
Exact language happens when you use accurate nouns, correct modifiers, and lively verbs.

Think about the way you would describe a stranger in a store. When you are thinking about what words to choose to describe the person, you are probably making suggestions about the person that are molding your audience's thoughts about the stranger, whether that is positive or negative. Think about the difference that word choice can make.

Think about a favorite place you like to visit. Write two paragraphs about the place. The first paragraph is from your perspective. Describe it using words that suggest a positive image. Now, the second paragraph should be written from the point of view of someone who really dislikes your favorite place. Be sure to carefully choose words that have negative connotations.

Some examples are:

Inexpensive – Cheap

Worn-in – Old

Cozy – Cramped

Natural Language
Using natural language makes your writing authentic, or real. Think about the words you use in everyday conversations with your friends and family. Write down as many of your favorite words as possible in 10 minutes. Keep this list near you as you write. Look at it, and try to incorporate your natural word choices in your writing.

Beautiful Language
Beautiful language happens when you use colorful words and phrases to get your ideas across.

Here's an example of a plain sentence: “In the garden, the flowers were blooming.”

Here's a re-write of the same sentence, using beautiful language: “The clean, white trellis was the perfect entryway for the quaint English Garden that sat behind the cozy brownstone cottage. Walking under the trellis, you could get a slight whiff of the newly flowering rose bushes.”

Sentence Fluency
Writing with sentence fluency makes your sentences seem like music. They flow and have a certain rhythm about them. Well designed sentences also are different lengths, and help you to reinforce your message.Here's a quick way to practice stretching your sentences. Start with a simple sentence, and add one word to it, with each revision. Each word can make the sentence more specific and melodic. Read them to yourself to check for rhythm.

Here's a sample:

Jessica played the piano.
Jessica cheerfully played the piano.
Jessica cheerfully played the shiny piano.
Jessica cheerfully played the shiny black piano.
Jessica cheerfully played the enormous, shiny black piano.

To have sentence fluency in your writing, you have to listen to how the words sound together, as well as look at how the text looks on the page. Work on sensing how your phrasing leads the reader through your story. Like all great writers, continue to practice, and you will achieve fluency in your composition.