Download Word Choice/Word Order

Word choice is a fundamental aspect of any type of writing. To say something in two
different ways always means, to one extent or another, saying two different things. In
some cases, writers may choose particularly striking words. But even when no one
word draws attention to itself in a text, word choice is still crucial. A good writer
strives to choose the words that best communicate his or her meaning. One factor that
both complicates and enriches word choice is the difference between denotation and
connotation. Denotation is the literal, dictionary meaning of a word. Connotation is
the additional meaning or set of meanings associated with a word. Connotation is
every bit as important as denotation. An obvious example of this importance is the
difference between “inexpensive” and “cheap.” On one level, both words simply
mean that something doesn’t cost much. On another level, however, “cheap” implies
that the item in question is somehow inferior. Another factor affecting word choice is
the sound of a word. This is especially important for poets, who may need a word
that fits a particular meter or rhyme scheme, but fiction writers and dramatists also
are aware of the sounds that their words make. In addition to choosing their words,
authors must also decide on the best order in which to put them. The order of the
parts of speech in English sentences is relatively fixed, but there is some variation,
and writers can take advantage of these variations for expressive purposes.