Any piece of creative writing is woven with specific words that help to evoke emotions, convey ideas and inspire action. Obviously, the allure of using sophisticated vocabulary for that purpose is undeniable. We use it to elevate our language so that our writing resonates not only with intellect but also with eloquence. Hence, we go ahead and choose high-sounding words like brobdingnagian, obfuscate, ineffableness, etc. Now, here is the tricky part: using words that are too fancy can sometimes make things confusing! So, we need to find the perfect balance between showing off our creative skills and making sure everyone enjoys the show! That is, we need to know which word is the most effective in a context. In the words of Captain Marvel, "It's not about the powers. It's about using them wisely." In simple words, dear young writers, to use strong words wisely, you need to understand the tiny differences between them.
Accordingly, when it comes to choosing words, we need to take note of two types of choices: ‘synonyms’ that are context-appropriate and ‘near synonyms’ that somewhat mean the same thing but have opposite connotations. Let’s check out both kinds in depth.
Synonyms:
What’s a synonym? Imagine words are like colours. We know that a single colour can have different shades, like different shades of blue. Well, words can be like that too! Let's take the word "happy." There are other words that mean almost the same thing: "joyful" or "gleeful." These words are synonyms because they mean the same thing—feeling good.
Now, here's the tricky part: even though they're similar, these words have tiny differences, just like light and dark blue. For instance, if you had a happy day, saying it was "joyful" makes it feel extra special and full of joy. But if you say it was "gleeful," it means not only happy but also a bit playful with some giggles. So, it's like choosing different colours to make our sentences more interesting! Let's explore some words with advanced synonyms along with examples.
1. Big:
Colossal: extremely large, like a gigantic mountain or a colossal statue.
Enormous: really, really big, like something that's much larger than usual.
Example: The cake at the party was colossal; its enormous layers of sweetness signalled everyone to indulge.
2. Fast:
Expeditious: this refers to the quality of being prompt, efficient and done with speed. It implies a timely and efficient execution of tasks or actions.
Accelerated: this refers to the increase in speed or pace.
Example: The company witnessed accelerated growth in the global market due to their expeditious manner of completing projects.
Near synonyms:
What is a near/nuanced synonym? Let's explore the nuanced differences between the words ‘simple and plain,’ and let’s compare them to variations in our colour palette. If something is "simple," it suggests clarity and straightforwardness, like a clean stroke on the canvas. On the other hand, if it's described as "plain," it might mean lacking adornment, like a canvas without intricate details. They are near synonyms as they have similar meanings but come with distinct connotations that can alter the perception of the described word.
Let's explore near-synonyms with advanced words and their common counterparts:
1. Courageous vs. Audacious: courageous suggests bravery and noble qualities, while audacious implies bravery or daring nature, often with a hint of recklessness.
2. Famous vs. Infamous: famous implies positive renown, while infamous implies being well-known for negative reasons.
3. Diligent vs. Meticulous: diligent refers to careful and persistent work, while meticulous implies an almost obsessive attention to detail.
4. Sceptical vs. Cynical: sceptical suggests a cautious questioning to verify claims to be sure. Cynical, on the other hand, is wanting to verify claims out of a general lack of trust in others' intentions and not just to be sure.
5. Serene Vs Tranquil: serene suggests a state of calmness and peace within an individual, even in the face of challenges, while tranquil describes an external environment that is quiet and undisturbed. While both convey a sense of calmness and peacefulness, the nuance lies in the context of that calmness.
6. Shrewd vs Cunning: shrewd indicates sharpness in judgment, often positively, while cunning can have a more negative connotation, implying deceit or trickery.
So, here's the deal: using fancy words can be cool, but we've got to be careful. Do not overload your writing as you can risk writing convoluted sentences that hinder the reader’s ability to understand your piece. Because even though words might seem kind of alike, they each bring their own special twist (in tone and meaning) to our writing. After all, they are synonyms, not the same word; they are definitely not interchangeable.