http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslVocabularyAndIdioms/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenCSMOD (Build: 3232.18851)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PrecisionInVocabulary/bdxlh/post.htm#102500Tue, 24 May 2005 18:18:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:102500julielai0http://www.englishforums.com/English/PrecisionInVocabulary/bdxlh/post.htm#102500http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-102500.xmlHi guest, <br /> <br />I'm not sure if memorizing a list would help. That said, many writing handbooks have a list of overly used expressions. <br /> <br />1. One thing that helps me is to be as specific as possible. Take for instance, <br /> <br />Nothing is more fun than driving a nice vehicle on the road. <br /> <br />Now that is not telling my readers much. How nice is the vehicle? What kind of vehicle? What sort of road am I driving on? <br /> <br />How about being a bit more specific. <br /> <br />Nothing thrills me more than driving a sports car on the highway. <br /> <br />Now that's a little better -- the reader now knows this is not just any vehicle; it's a sports car going on a highway. <br /> <br />How about giving our readers a vivid mental picture? <br /> <br />Driving a Ferrari on Highway 123-x for 80 miles an hour -- now that's an experience! <br /> <br />Now that's clear. It's not just any sports car; it's a Ferrari. And we are talking about doing it for 80 miles an hour. <br /> <br />I hope this gives you an idea about word choices -- pick concrete terms that create vivid images in your readers' minds. <br /> <br />Another example: <br />e.g. You are eating way too much fruit. <br />Now that's not as clear as: Ten bananas in a row! Jees! <br /> <br />To be able to write like this, you will need to develop a habit of thinking clearly and vividly. After all, ambiguous word choices is a reflection of a confused mind. <br /> <br />2. Another thing that helps is to energize the so-called cliches by using them in a varied manner. e.g. tried and true is a cliche, but even cliches like that can be redeemed with a slight variation, e.g. "the method, once tried, proved true." <br /> <br />I hope this helps! <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/PrecisionInVocabulary/bdxjn/post.htmTue, 24 May 2005 17:37:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:102472Guest1http://www.englishforums.com/English/PrecisionInVocabulary/bdxjn/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-102472.xmlWhat are the commonly overused words in english essays? For eg, say. Can anyone jot down a list which shows words that are more precise than these overused words? Or is there any program which can provide more precise words to those vague words? Thanks! I really need to convey in precise vocabulary for my english essays.