LESSON 12
Vocab Word Choice
Congratulations! You’ve made it through the majority of the “hardcore grammar rules”
contained in this book. This is perhaps the first lesson that’s not really about grammar in the
literal sense. This new topic - Vocab Word Choice - revolves around vocabulary: choices of
similar words with different tones or connotations.
Usually these questions look relatively short and sweet.- you’re just given four choices of
individual words. For example, from the Pretest:
The small house built in the field used the average building materials that
were available in the region: wood, stone, brick, and glass.
(A) [NO CHANGE]
(B) arbitrary
(C) stereotypical
(D) characteristic
Notice that all four words have something in common: they are a loosely-clustered group of
similar words that can overlap in meaning in certain contexts and usages. However, they all
have subtle differences in meaning and tone that can make a crucial difference when deciding
which word to use for the job.
Priorities of Vocab Word Choice Questions
The first priority in any Vocab Word Choice question should be to eliminate any words that
don’t have an accurate meaning that is fitting for the situation.
In the question above, we can safely eliminate Choice B, “arbitrary,” which means “based on a
random whim, rather than any reason or system.” The sentence tells us that the building
materials are selected specifically from what is available in the region, so “based on a random
whim” isn’t a good definition.
The second priority in a Vocab Word Choice question is to eliminate any words that don’t fit
the context.
On this ground, we can most likely eliminate Choice A, “average,” which fits best in a
mathematical context when dealing with sets of data, or in a more informal context when
comparing an individual to a larger group. This sentence does not present a particularly
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mathematical or data-based context, so it’s unlikely that “average” will be the best word choice
for the job.
The third priority in a Vocab Word Choice question is to narrow your remaining choices down
by tone: the “positive,” “negative,” or “neutral” connotations, and the “formal” or “informal”
connotations of each remaining word choice.
Of our remaining choices, Choice C, “stereotypical,” has a negative connotation. This word
implies “an oversimplified idea of a particular type of person or thing.” Our sentence is neutral
and informational in tone, and there’s no negative connotation of being overly simple.
The best word for the job is Choice D, “characteristic.” It’s nothing fancy, but it’s perfect for the
job - a neutral, relatively formal word meaning “typical of a person, place, or thing.”
There’s one more priority to think about on a Vocab Word Choice question, which blends into
the next lesson on Wordiness and Redundancy. (These two topics are sometimes blended
together.)
For an example, what if Choice C had been “not unusual,” instead of the given option,
“stereotypical”? If that were the case, “not unusual” might pass the third priority’s test - it’s
quite neutral, without any negative connotations. However, the double negative of “not
unusual” would be unnecessarily wordy compared to the simpler option, “characteristic.”
In a Vocab Word Choice question in which two choices both fit the meaning, context, and tone,
then look for the most concise answer choice. It will usually be the correct one.
Levels & Difficulties of Vocab Words
These vocabulary questions aren’t generally focused on high-level “difficult” vocabulary. They
are mostly focused on the nuances of similar common words.
The majority of the vocab words will sound familiar to you - although you may find yourself
worrying about the exact usage of each word, when you’re faced with this type of question.
Remember, this topic isn’t so much about the “difficulty” of the vocab words as it is about their
exact meanings, appropriate contexts, connotation, tone, and brevity (which means “being
short, exact, and concise.”)
At the same time, you should be prepared to occasionally see more advanced vocabulary words.
Sometimes I think the test authors like to provide three “easy and familiar” words alongside a
single “challenging / advanced” vocab word - just to cause stress and chaos if you aren’t sure
whether the “advanced” vocab word would be a better choice than one of the three words that
you’re more familiar with.
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Vocab Word Choice Quick Reference

Recognize these questions by their simplicity and appearance. You’re given four similar but not identical - vocabulary words, and you’re supposed to select the best option for the
current context.

First, focus on accurate meaning. Eliminate any words with unsuitable definitions.

Next, eliminate any words that don’t fit the context of the sentence, based on the topic.

Now focus on appropriate tone. Does the situation call for a word with positive, negative,
or neutral connotations? Is the setting more formal and academic, or more informal and
conversational?

The final check should be for wordiness. All things being equal, the shorter answer is better.
This overlaps with Lesson 13 on Wordiness and Redundancy.

To improve in this topic, read more books and articles each day to start learning the specific
contexts, connotations, and meanings of new words. Deliberately spend time developing
your vocabulary by looking up definitions and opening your mind to the subtle differences
in similar word choices. This will also help immensely with your Reading scores on the SAT
& ACT tests.
Following are a few details from my personal research into the SAT & ACT and their use of
Vocab Word Choice questions. One point became immediately clear: vocabulary is much more
important on the SAT Grammar test than it is on the ACT Grammar test.
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ACT Vocab Word Choice
On the ACT Grammar section, this topic appears consistently, but in low frequencies. On
average, it is seen approximately just once per test (once per 75 questions) This means that
vocabulary questions are just over 1% of the whole ACT Grammar test, a very low percentage.
Here are a few word-choice selections from actual ACT Vocab Word Choice questions:

illuminate, emanate, emulate, eliminate

arouse, stimulate, awaken, disturb

voluminous, immeasurable,
mountainous, large

heaps, a high number, hundreds, plenty
SAT Vocab Word Choice
On the SAT Grammar section, Vocab Word Choice questions are much more common. On
average, it is seen approximately three times in a single test (three times per 44 questions).
That makes this topic about 7% of the whole SAT Grammar test - nearly six times higher in
importance than on the ACT.
Here a some selections of vocabulary words from actual SAT Vocab Word Choice questions:
- outdo, defeat, outperform, outweigh
- satiated, fulfilled, complacent, sufficient
- share advice, give some wisdom, proclaim our
opinions, opine
- reducing, reductions, deducting, deducts
- devour, dispatch, overindulge on, dispose of
- austere, egregious, unmitigated, stark
- sinister, surly, abysmal, icky
- tight, firm, stiff, taut
- decreed, commissioned, forced, licensed
- confided, promulgated, imparted, unveiled
- preserve, carry on, maintain, sustain
- life-altering, galvanizing, intriguing, weird
- site, cite, sight
- emphatic, paramount, eminent, important
- swear, subscribe, vow, promise
- persecuted, prosecuted
- pinnacle, triumph, culmination, apex
- taking on, undertaken in, overtaking, taking off
from
- blockade, scolding, interference, condemnation,
drag, reproof, deterrent, rebuke
- weirdnesses, deviations, oddities, abnormalities
- keep pace, maintain the tempo, get in line, move
along
- bolstering, amping up, arousing, revving up
- elderly, old, mature, geriatric
- elaborated, developed, evolved, progressed
- annihilating, eliminating, ousting, closing the door
on
- potent, sturdy, influential, commanding
- scrupulous, super-rigorous, spot-on, intense
- deformation, alteration, transformation,
modification
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Let’s look at the other Pretest question that might have sent you to this chapter:
I prefer modern boat designs, and although my cousins enjoyed the interior
styling of the old steamship, I considered the decor fairly primordial.
(A) [NO CHANGE]
(B) elderly
(C) old-fashioned
(D) ancient
First, notice any words that don’t have an accurate meaning for the situation. Interestingly, all
of these words could possibly fit, since they all have a connection to “oldness.” However,
Choice A, “primordial,” has the dictionary meaning of “existing at the beginning of time.” It’s
unlikely that this is the ideal definition, since steamships did not exist at the beginning of time!
Next, move on to context. “Elderly” is a word most often seen in the context of people.
Although it is possible to use “elderly” to describe machinery or other objects, it’s an unusual
context, and chances are that we’ve got a more straightforward option available.
Finally, let’s move on to connotation. Although Choice D, “ancient,” could possibly be used in
this context, it has a connotation of “the very distant past.” Compared to our other option “old-fashioned” - it seems that “ancient” would imply a much older age, while “old-fashioned”
is more moderate option.
We could still try Choice D if we were uncertain, which would give us the phrase “fairly
ancient.” It should sound a bit ridiculous to you, because “ancient” implies extremely old, but
the word “fairly” is providing a more moderate tone that clashes with the more extreme
connotation of “ancient.”
That’s why Choice C is the correct solution: “Old-fashioned” has a straightforward accuracy
that fits the meaning, context and connotation of the “fairly old-fashioned” style of decoration
aboard an old steamship, without going to extremes.
Review and Encouragement
Don’t forget: the number-one way to improve your results on Vocab Word Choice questions is
to read more. Develop a curiosity for the meanings of words, their exact definitions, precise
usages and related synonyms. This will not only raise your SAT & ACT Grammar scores, it will
also make you a faster, better reader.
Not least of all, this will also make you a better writer and speaker, and you’ll find it easier to
express your own ideas with powerful, clear, persuasive, and precise language!
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