College Composition / Unit 10 CMP 0243 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Revising for Diction
The idea
Revising for diction means rereading a draft only for its words, after its structure and sentences are settled.
In practice
Work in order. First, search for words on your personal list of confusions. Second, mark vague words such as thing, stuff, very and a lot, and replace them with specific ones. Third, mark slang and casual phrases that do not fit the register. Fourth, mark technical terms and define or replace them for a general audience. Fifth, check for biased or stereotyping language. Sixth, read for connotation: does each charged word reflect the attitude you intend?
Where people slip
Diction revision can overshoot into pretension. Replacing plain words with longer ones because they sound academic makes prose harder to read; the goal is the exact word, not the elaborate one.
Your place on the trail
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