CORRECT DICTION
In last week's lesson, you learned about expanding your vocabulary. Good
writing depends on more than just having a large vocabulary, however. You
have to learn to use the vocabulary correctly in the right contexts. Choosing
the right vocabulary is also known as choosing your diction.
If you know the word dictionary, then you have seen the word diction. In
fact, diction is simply the words you choose to express your meaning.
However, choosing the right words isn't always so simple.
The words you choose can be formal, informal, or colloquial/slang. Using slang
when you should be writing formally is a big mistake. Similarly, if you are
overly formal in a situation that calls for informality, you risk insulting your
reader as well.
Formal
Informal
Slang
I am angry.
I'm mad.
I'm pissed off.
(slightly vulgar)
my father
my dad
my old man
What you are
I don't think your plan
That plan's crap. (slightly vulgar)
proposing does
sounds all that possible.
not seem
feasible.
It was a pleasure
meeting you.
See you around.
Later, dude.
VIDEO QUIZ ANSWERS
Don't look at this list until you have done the video quiz earlier in this week's
materials.How many did you know passively? How many do you use in your
active vocabulary?
1.
lightning
2.
a castle
3.
a windmill
4.
a dandelion
5.
a harpist playing a harp
6.
beads
7.
fountains
8.
a snail on some gravel
9.
mushrooms
10.
candles
11.
a rooster
12.
skaters ice skating
13.
lilypads
14.
rope
15.
straws
16.
a bench on a bluff
17.
marbles
18.
a lens
19.
a parachute and parachutist by a mountain and forest
20.
paperclips
21.
a footprint in some sand
22.
cacti (cactuses)
21 ERRORS IN DICTION
There are two main sources of error in diction:
1. Choosing the wrong word. This can happen because of confusion between
homonyms (words that sound alike but are spelled differently), or because the
meaning of the word isn't fully understood.
2. Choosing colloquial, or less formal spoken language when standard or more
formal language is called for (or vice versa). In academic writing, formal
diction is generally expected.
Here are 21 common errors made in writing formal diction. How many of
these usage errors have you made?
1. A lot/lots of
Colloquial: Diana likes her apartment a lot.
Formal: Diana likes her apartment very much.
Colloquial: There are lots of books in our library.
Formal: There are many books in our library.
2. Among/between
(Tip: Among involves more than two; between involves only two)
Colloquial: Discussions between our group members were often very lively.
Discussions Formal: Discussions among our group members were often very
lively.
3. Around/ about
(Tip: Don't use around to indicate time, distance, or other quantity.)
Colloquial: The class usually begins around nine.
Formal: The class usually begins at about nine.
4. Badly
(Tip: "Badly" is not a substitute for "very much.")
Colloquial: The team wanted to win really badly.
Formal: The team wanted desperately to win.
5. Based off of
Colloquial: Based off of that information, we can move ahead with the plan.
Formal: Based on that information, we can move ahead with the plan.
6. Because
(Tip: Don't use "because" after " reason.")
Colloquial: The reason for our flight delay is because of bad weather.
Formal: The reason for our flight delay is the bad weather.
7. A bunch/bunches
(Tip: Use bunch or bunches only for things that are bound or grow together,
like bananas and grapes; it is not used for other countable nouns.)
Colloquial: A bunch of us are going to the movies tonight.
Formal: A group of us are going to the movies tonight.
Formal: There are three bunches of bananas on the counter.
8. Each other/one other
(Tip: Each other refers to two, one another refers to more than two.)
Colloquial: Everyone at the party wished each other a happy new year.
Formal: Everyone at the party wished one another a happy new year.
Formal: My sister and I wished each other a happy new year.
9. Guys
Colloquial: I hope you guys can join me at the restaurant.
Formal: I hope all of you can join me at the restaurant.
10. In / Into
(Tip: "In" means "within" or "inside", while "into" refers to the motion of
going from outside to inside.)
Colloquial: Bill went in the bus station to buy a ticket.
Formal: Bill went into the bus station to buy a ticket.
11. Infer/imply
(Tip: To infer is an act of thinking, to imply is an act of saying something.)
Incorrect: I saw your memo about a noon meeting. Are you inferring that we
should have lunch together?
Correct: I saw your memo about a noon meeting. Are you implying that we
should have lunch together?
12. It's/its
Incorrect: The committee has reached it's goals this year.
Correct: The committee has reached its goals this year.
13. Kind of / sort of
(Tip: Don't use "kind of" or "sort of" when you mean "very" , "rather," or
"somewhat." )
Colloquial: Jim was sort of angry when he learned we went to the park
without him.
Formal: Jim was somewhat upset when he learned we went to the park
without him.
14. Less than/fewer than
(Tip: Use less than only with uncountable nouns.)
Colloquial: There are less people in the store today than yesterday.
Formal: There are fewer people in the store today than yesterday.
15. Like / as
(Tip: Use "as" when comparing actions, "like" when comparing things.)
Colloquial: Alan wants to write a new essay, just like Sarah does.
Formal: Alan wants to write a new essay just as Sarah does.
16. Like / maybe
(Tip: Avoid using "like" and "maybe" when estimating; use "approximately",
"perhaps" or "about" instead.)
Colloquial: There were like thirty people at my birthday party.
Formal: There were approximately thirty people at my birthday party.
17. Meantime
Colloquial: Meantime, the rain continued to pour.
Formal: In the meantime, the rain continued to pour.
Formal: Meanwhile, the rain continued to pour.
18. On account of
Colloquial: On the account of the weather, our plane was late.
Formal: Because of the weather, our plane was late.
19. Plenty
Colloquial: It has been plenty warm all week.
Formal: It has been very warm all week.
20. So
(Tip: Don't use "so" as a synonym for "therefore".)
Colloquial: Dmitry knew that I missed class, so he shared his notes.
Formal: Dmitry knew that I missed class; therefore, he shared his notes.
Colloquial: This week's homework is so difficult.
Formal: This week's homework is very difficult.
21. They're/their/there
Incorrect: Do you know if their going to the party?
Correct: Do you know if they're going to the party?
Incorrect: What is there address?
Correct: What is their address?
QUIZ: DICTION
Instructions
Choose the more correct or more formal of each of the two options.
1 (1 point possible)
All the students in class helped each other on the homework.
John and his brother challenged each other to a race.
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
2
(1 point possible)
There are fewer fish in the tank now than last month.
Less meals are served at the cafeteria nowadays.
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
3
(1 point possible)
The reason for my low grade is because I didn't study enough.
Is the reason for our bad weather the hurricane in Florida?
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
4
(1 point possible)
Based on the current situation, I think the economy will improve.
We are going to get a very high grade, based off of our presentation
success.
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
5
(1 point possible)
There were approximately twenty birds on the window ledge.
The price of an iPad is like $499 US.
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
6
(1 point possible)
It was raining, so Bob didn't go hiking on Sunday.
The airplane was late; therefore, my mother didn't arrive in time for dinner.
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
7
(1 point possible)
On account of being ill, Maria didn't go to the movies.
Mr. Sherman didn't write a new book because he was too busy.
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8
(1 point possible)
They're moving to Brazil soon.
Their going to live in Rio de Janeiro.
You have used 0 of 1 submissions
CONNOTATIONS
A connotation is an idea or feeling that a word may hold that is in addition to
its main meaning (ordenotation). These additional meanings are often cultural
or emotional in nature, so they can be hard to understand if you only consult
a dictionary.
For example, look at these four words: cheap, frugal, miserly,
economical. Two of these words have positive meanings and the other two
have negative meanings. All of them mean the quality of saving money by
spending very little. (Answer: cheap and miserly are negative, meaning
someone who is unreasonable in their spending
habits; frugal and economical have positive associations, meaning someone
who is careful about spending money).
When you make notes on vocabulary items in your notebook, sometimes it is
helpful to put a + (plus) next to a word with a positive connotation, and a (minus) next to those with negative connotations. Some words, of course,
are neutral, being neither negative or positive. Furthermore, some are so
negative as to be insulting or unacceptable.
The groups of words in each set have similar meanings, but different
connotations. Using online sources, such as http://corpus.byu.edu/coca/,
search engines, or other sources, see if you can learn something about the
connotations of each word in the group.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Childlike, youthful, childish, young, immature, juvenile
Chubby, fat, plump, overweight
Confident, secure, proud, egotistical
Cute, knockout, beautiful, stunning
Disabled, crippled, handicapped, differently abled, retarded
Inquisitive, interested, curious, nosy
Relaxed, laid-back, lackadaisical, lazy, easy-going
Slim, skinny, slender, thin, bony
Talkative, conversational, chatty, garrulous
In the discussion area in this unit, choose a group of these words and write
one example sentence for each word in the group. Show that you understand
the connotations of each word in writing your sentence. Comment on at least
two other students' example sentences.
Choose whether each word in a group is negative, positive, or relatively
neutral when compared to the others.
1
(1 point possible)
The Jones family abandoned their dog because he was ill.
In this context, abandoned has a __________ connotation.
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
2
(1 point possible)
Anthony gave a convincing presentation.
In this context, convincing has a __________ connotation.
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
3
(1 point possible)
The senator had a very reactionary response to the president's new plan.
In this context, reactionary has a __________ connotation.
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
4
(1 point possible)
Bob is quite tall.
In this context, tall has a __________ connotation.
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
5
(1 point possible)
Gordon was implicated in the burglary.
In this context, implicated has a __________ connotation.
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
6
(1 point possible)
Marsha prefers to wear classic clothing.
In this context, classic has a __________ connotation.
CHOOSING YOUR TONE IN WRITING
1
(1 point possible)
What is the difference between tone and mood?
They are both elements of voice in writing.
Tone expresses the writer's
feelings; mood expresses the reader's opinion.
Tone expresses the reader's
opinion; mood expresses the writer's feelings.
There isn't a difference; they
both express style.
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2
(2 points possible)
What are the characteristics of the tone of most academic writing? Choose
three.
courteous
pretentious
sophisticated
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3
confident
angry
(1 point possible)
Read this note left on someone's door and decide what tone it has:
You'd better not walk your dog without a leash, or I'll call the police and have
you ticketed.
sarcastic
ironic
threatening
respectful
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
4
(1 point possible)
Read this note left on someone's door and decide what tone it has:
I'd be very grateful if you could please use a leash when you walk your dog-thanks so much.
angry
helpful
unfeeling
polite
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
5
(1 point possible)
Read this note left on someone's door and decide what tone it has:
I'm very sorry to complain about your dog again, it's just that I'm very
frightened of dogs, so when he isn't on a leash I feel really scared. I know
he's a nice dog.
apologetic
ironic
threatening
You have used 0 of 2 submissions
rude