Thesaurus

[Deadpool]

last couple of days I've been trying to expand my reading selection on the site, and include a few other characters to follow. I figured it would be healthy to try and get an idea of some of you write. If for being else, just to see who I could become compatible with for potential IC interaction...

However, I've been running into some posts--no need to specify--that I'm getting lost in because of too much thesaurus-ing. Look, we all wanna sound intelligent and all, but a lot of times when you thesaurus something the meaning of what you're trying to convey gets lost in translation.


Ex. If your thesaurus the word bashing you will get a few words, like bludgeoning.

While both these words imply the same thing essentially, bludgeoning someone is bashing someone with a particular item--a bludgeon.

So, long story short, try to look up the meaning of a word you're thesaurus-ing before you decide to use it, because what you're trying to convey can potentially be lost in translation.



That's all. Happy writing everyone!


And sorry for so many errors in post. I lost internet service and am resorting to my phone

[Magus]

I often refer to Orwell's 5 rules for effective writing (though I catch myself breaking them, too):

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than saying anything outright barbarous

And actually tons of famous writers are quoted regarding concise writing, like those found here: http://www.4syllables.com.au/resources/q...e-writing/

[Proto Man]

While I don't think you had the best example (since bludgeon the verb has a few meanings), it's a good point that people too often try to fancy up their stuff to the point where it's painful and terrible and they throw in these 5$ words that just jar me as a reader.

Just be natural, whether that's to your character or to you the writer.

[Guilmon]

People actually use the thesaurus? I kinda almost forgot it even existed...

[Sasuke Uchiha]

I really only left click a word and highlight synonyms if I really need to change a word, but I really only do this if a word is, for whatever reason, an eye sore for me. (I use Micro word)

It should be used carefully as Deadpool is right. Sometimes a word can be a synonym of the word you want to replace, however, in the context you have, the replaced word wouldn't really fit. So, you have to watch out for this as it can throw your whole segment off.

[PepsiWhirda]

6. Break any of these rules sooner than saying anything outright barbarous.

Of Orwell's rules this is the one to take with you. Every writer has his or her own style and writing advice, which, while often sensible for that writer's particular circumstances, should never be interpreted as law. I had a phase where I experimented constantly with thesaurus words, interesting syllable counts and metaphors; I can't imagine it read super well at the time, but my writing now brings a lot of that experimentation with it. I'm wordy, but I've found that concise voice in my own way, and now (at least I think) I don't sound pretentious or thesaurus-wielding. It wasn't because I read lots of advice from writers. It's because I read hundreds of books from all different time periods and styles, and wrote a lot lot lot of drivel, and found my place among them.

[Deadpool]

I have no problem with people using a thesaurus, or synonym option in MS Word. I'm just trying to say that of it comes off unnatural in the post, it shouldn't be there.


By the way, I was not referring to anyone that has posted in this thread. From what I've read from you guys, most of your words aren't out of place.

[Monkey D. Luffy]

It's understandable to use a thesaurus in situations where you have a "brain fart" and can't think of the exact term you desire to use, but it's not appropriate to abuse in lieu of simply projecting what comes to mind naturally. Often I've even opted out of "larger" words in favor of smaller, less articulate words/phrases simply in light of the fact that they mesh better with anterior/subsequent terms, additionally due to the actual meaning of the word making more sense.

On the flipside, sometimes I even conjure up terms on the fly or utilize goofy phrases simply because that's my (and thereby Luffy's) personality and writing forte. For a single example, I've used the term "skittled" a couple times. Not a real word, I'm fully aware, but my use of it is hopefully clear enough that I mean "collectively variable and/or colorfully widespread."

Essentially, I enjoy toying with word use as much as possible, yet without trying to hard.

[Guilmon]

Skittled isn't a real word? I figured it had something to do w/ variability...

[Deadpool]

i love when people make up their own words that are suit their character.

[Omni]

6. Break any of these rules sooner than saying anything outright barbarous.

Of Orwell's rules this is the one to take with you. Every writer has his or her own style and writing advice, which, while often sensible for that writer's particular circumstances, should never be interpreted as law. I had a phase where I experimented constantly with thesaurus words, interesting syllable counts and metaphors; I can't imagine it read super well at the time, but my writing now brings a lot of that experimentation with it. I'm wordy, but I've found that concise voice in my own way, and now (at least I think) I don't sound pretentious or thesaurus-wielding. It wasn't because I read lots of advice from writers. It's because I read hundreds of books from all different time periods and styles, and wrote a lot lot lot of drivel, and found my place among them.

Boom. This right here.