Forum

[faradina]

When choosing words to use in your article, you must take into consideration not only the meaning but also the connotation of the words so that you will be able to convey your idea effectively. The wrong choice of words can lead to misinterpretation of the message that you are trying to deliver to your audience.

It is important to choose words that are specific - those words that name and describe exactly - so that your readers will understand exactly what you mean. Your vocabulary should be broad enough to let you use exact words in your article. If you feel that you need to increase your vocabulary, you can do so by reading and listening carefully, and then looking up the meaning of the new words that you encounter.

I regularly consult my dictionary for the meaning of words even in cases where the word is not new to me. In that way, I can be sure that I am using the correct word. In addition, I look into the connotations of the words. Connotations stir up feelings, attitudes, and experiences in readers and thus it is important that we use words with the correct connotations. Consider these:

“The man has smooth manners.”

“The man has slippery manners.”

The first has a positive connotation and the second has a negative connotation. When using either, you need to think if it is really the idea that you want to convey to your readers.

The choice of words becomes really important when you substitute words during spinning. The wrong synonym can change the whole meaning of your sentence, and, consequently, your article as well. Before choosing to use any word, make sure that it has the correct denotation (meaning) and connotation.

 

[jmpruitt]

That is great information Fara, I would also like to add to use the easiest to understand word that you can.

Mark Twain once said "Why should I use 'policeman' when I get paid the same for saying 'cop'?"

when writing, KISS it : Keep It Short and Simple.

I find that if I write to a level of an 8th year grammar student, I get much better responses from people. Dumb it down a little and write using language that is easy for the average person to understand rather than using big complicated words that confuse people.

 

[gradyp]

Suddenly, I'm thinking of Damon Wayans from "In Living Color" as the cellmate who always tried to use big words, but always misused them :D

 

[kdruhl]

I agree with Jim and Fara. In writing, simple words have more emotional content than complicated ones. And our prospects will buy based on an emotional decision, and justify with logic. Plus, benefits have emotional value, and that is what we want to emphasize in marketing. Puts some responsibility on the marketer.

 

[michellerana]

Yes, it is best to keep things simple. Below is an excerpt from the blog post: Why it's bad to assume your visitors are smart - Dealing with "The 30% Brain"

It's the theory of the 30% brain.

Basically, when we're browsing the internet, our brains aren't really at full capacity. (And when I say we I mean the internet-using population in general.) We might be just wandering around, browsing on our lunch break. We might just be looking for a quick answer. We might have stumbled upon something by accident.

We have a very limited attention span, and if something doesn't grab us, or make complete sense within the first few seconds, we're probably going to shrug our shoulders and go somewhere else.

 

[SethCzerepak]

I've found simple verbs with a lot of punch are the best, I've been keeping a list over my years of experience in sales and copywriting...

http://www.vqsuccess.com/2010/03/16/pow ... pywriters/

 

[Motoza]

Even though I've worked with plenty of clients in making 'seo' friendly article sites, I've always said that simple is better. Write for the user and you'll always achieve great results in your articles. Great post Fara!

 

[fastflipwebservices]

Being a copywriter myself, I've seen my share of what works when it comes to words...Short action words with punch always hit home.

Then again when it comes to writing articles keeping the paragraphs under five lines is easier on the eyes. I've written tons of articles and I can attest to the effectiveness of writing on an eight grade level with a lot of action verbs, and less of the word "That".

Have you ever tried the visual thesaurus? http://www.visualthesaurus.com/ it's a great online tool that helps you find action verbs, and other words you wouldn't of thought of by using a mindmap. Check it out, and you'll be hooked.

 

[Cecille L]

Thanks for sharing! I tried the Visual Thesaurus and it's addictive. It would certainly come in handy when you suddenly can't find the right words. :)

 

[annabellefrost07]

Whoa! The Visual Thesaurus thing is awesome - it's so beautiful - mesmerizing! truly! :D

 

[peter.h.coscolluela]

The Visual Thesaurus is a fantastic tool. Just be mindful that too much thesaurus could make your article lose its character or your brand. Use it only when you are at a loss for words. But always, keep your sentences short and precise.

Almost all appreciate to read the words they know. Some get put off when there are too many fancy words. After all we are reaching out as compared to reaching up.

 

[macdalangin]

The Visual Thesaurus is indeed a nice tool, especially if you are lost for words. However, I must agree with what Peter just said. Too much dependency in this kind of tool makes your content "unnatural" to read.

 

[qualisseo]

Can I check the duplicate article content?

 

[macdalangin]

@qualisseo

You may check duplicate content using one of these free tools:

Duplichecker- http://www.duplichecker.com/

Plagiarisma- http://plagiarisma.net/

Plagium- http://www.plagium.com/

You may also run your site/blog site to Copyscape to check for duplicate content- http://www.copyscape.com/

Mary