The vocabulary tag has no wiki summary.
16
votes
9answers
878 views
Tips for expanding my vocabulary?
Looking back through my texts, I noticed that I often use a lot of the same words and resort to using quite a basic vocabulary. I was wondering if there are any good exercises or anything else for ...
7
votes
7answers
417 views
What linguistic tools do you use?
I've got a Flip Dictionary, a Thesaurus, my trusty Strunk&White, and I use the almighty GOOG(le) should I ever be unsure of the definition of a word. What does everyone else use? Is there some ...
6
votes
4answers
160 views
Less universe-specific synonyms for “squib”?
I write primarily fantasy; recently, it's been brought to my attention that I use the terms "muggle" and "squib" informally fairly often in roleplay. If I were to publish something, I'd not want to ...
5
votes
8answers
607 views
Effective ways to enrich your active vocabulary?
I come across words like rectitude, like laudatory, like indigent, and being an experienced reader with a strong grasp on my native language, I know what they mean. They're words that I know.
But ...
5
votes
5answers
234 views
How do authors gain strong familiarity with archaic and extremely rare words?
I keep thinking about this because I've lately been reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, and it's just ridiculous. I have to look up 1-2 words per sentence sometimes, something I'm only used to ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Where can I find a good vocabulary list?
I'd like to expand my vocabulary and already do several of the things recommended in the Tips for expanding my vocabulary question. In addition to that, I've been spending some time with a ...
4
votes
1answer
510 views
Avoiding unintended rudeness or accusatory tones in reminder emails
I am in one of the newsletter teams of my company. Last week, I had mailed the Vice-President of our company to write an article for our newsletter, to which he replied in affirmative and mailed me ...
3
votes
3answers
166 views
How many different words are in the average novel?
I realize there's going to be a bit of variation here from one author to the next and depending on length of the novel, but the range shouldn't really be too large.
The thing is, I really have no ...
1
vote
5answers
267 views
Is the following piece of text comprehensible and written in good style?
I am a PhD candidate and I am having difficulty in communicating effectively in writing. Specifically, this post is a piece of text submitted for critique and, in addition, explains what I am trying ...
1
vote
2answers
111 views
Looking for a verb that means “making something looks very simple by ignoring its complexity or details”
I'm looking for a verb that means "making something looks very simple by ignoring its complexity or details". Here is the text that I'm composing:
"Reducing" complicated social problems to bad ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Am i using “he/she” too often during action scenes?
I'm not sure if I am being too overly critical of what I write or if I am actually falling into that "He/She" echo. By that I mean, using "he" or "she" over and over during the action, or combat in ...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
How to express in a better way? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to overcome the fact that I can't write?
Normally I have good ideas to write. But when I come to writing those on paper it seems I don't have much vocabulary or ...
