Word choice
What is word choice?
Word choice is an important part of writing. The words a writer chooses can have a massive impact on their writing.
What is word choice? How and why would you use it? Bitesize explains with examples from 鈥楾he Circle' by Don Paterson.
Question
Words are like ingredients: even a small change in the recipe can affect the finished dish.
Take a look at this example.
- The teacher stormed into the classroom.
- The teacher strolled into the classroom.
These two sentences give us the same information 鈥 the teacher has entered the classroom 鈥 but the words have different effects.
How would you describe the effect of each word choice?
Both sentences tell us that the teacher entered the classroom but the word choice tells us much more about how they were feeling.
鈥楽迟辞谤尘别诲鈥 suggests that the teacher has entered the room like a force of nature. If the teacher 鈥榮torms鈥 in it could be implied that they are aggressive, angry or very forceful.
鈥楽迟谤辞濒濒别诲鈥 suggests that the teacher has entered the room calmly. If the teacher 鈥榮trolls鈥 in it could be implied they are easy-going and relaxed.
Explaining layers or meaning
Denotation and connotation
All words can have more than one meaning. As well as a specific meaning of a word, like you would find in a dictionary, words can suggest other meanings or ideas.
- Denotation is the literal dictionary definition of a word e.g. a snake is a carnivorous reptile.
- Connotations are the ideas or feelings that a word might suggest e.g. a snake can suggest sneakiness, untrustworthiness or even evil.
What is symbolism?
In literature, a writer uses symbols to suggest deeper ideas to a reader. Symbols stand for something else beyond their literal meaning. This additional meaning adds to the power of the writing.
A writer might use symbols that we know already 鈥 for example, a red rose to symbolise love or a crown to symbolise royalty 鈥 or they might create their own.
A video about the layers of meanings that symbols in a text can have
Symbols can sometimes be obvious (for example, a skull often symbolises death) but sometimes they may take more work to understand.
To unpack the possible connotations of a symbol, a great place to start is to reduce the symbol to its most basic level. For example, the symbol of a fire can be interpreted in various ways.
Question
Can you think of how the word 'fire' can be interpreted in different ways?
See how many you can think of before reading the suggestions below.
The symbol of a fire can be interpreted in various ways:
- destruction
- warmth
- hope
- civilisation
- survival
On a deeper level, fire was one of the first discoveries which led to the development of civilisation. It has long been used by humans as a source of heat and protection. Humans鈥 ability to control and harness fire has led to the evolution of the human race and the development of civilisation. However, if we lose control of fire it can cause untold destruction and harm.
Depending on the context in which this symbol is being used by the author fire can represent different ideas, for example:
- Flames on a birthday cake represent the longevity of a person鈥檚 life.
- A forest fire represents death and destruction.
How to analyse word choice
Consider alternative word choice
When considering the language used by a writer, it can help to think of another word or expression the writer could have used. This will then allow you to:
- compare the word used against an alternative
- consider what the advantage was of using the word selected for the text
Connotations
Think about the An idea or image which is suggested by a word, which is not its dictionary meaning, eg the connotation of 'desk' might be school. of the word. In other words, what do you associate it with? This can help you come up with a suitable comment.
Informal and formal word choice
Another approach is to consider if the words used are informal or formal. A popular technique is to use a mixture of the two.
You should also think about the effect produced by the sound of words, through the use of techniques such as Repetition of a sound at the beginning of consecutive words, such as 鈥榯he big, bold, blue sea'. and The sounds of words to express or underline their meaning, eg 'crunch', 'pop'..
Question
On the horizon fumed the volcano.
Which of the following would be the best answer if you were asked to comment on the effectiveness of the choice of the word fumed
in the sentence?
- It describes the smoke coming out of the volcano.
- It has connotations of being angry, threatening or bad-tempered.
- It helps the reader picture the scene.
Option 2 was the best answer.
The word fumed
describes the smoke coming out of the volcano and also has connotations of being angry/threatening/bad-tempered.
The other answers are accurate statements but they do not explain why fumed
was such an effective word choice.
Question
Women are not only important consumers in their own right but they also act as gatekeepers to the rest of the family.
Which of the following would be the best answer if you were asked to comment on the effectiveness of the choice of the word gatekeepers
?
- A gatekeeper decides who can come in through the entrance and can close the door on someone he considers undesirable.
- Women have a protective role in deciding who or what comes into the family setting.
- A gatekeeper is responsible for deciding who may or may not be admitted into the premises and can close the door on someone he considers undesirable. In the same way, the women doing the family shopping have a protective role, and decide whether or not to allow certain items of food into the family home.
Option 3 was the best answer.
The use of the word gatekeepers
applies metaphorically to women who have a protective role in deciding who or what comes into the family setting.
The other answers are accurate statements but they do not explain why gatekeepers
was such an effective word choice.