Words, words, words

I definitely write in a more elaborate style than I speak. I don't think that there's anything wrong with doing so. The fact is, I could elevate my speach if I wanted to, I just choose to speak plainly so that I can carry on normal conversations without people thinking I'm a snob. While I disagree with using a thesaurus to write more eloquently, if you know how to write articulately then go for it.

You write in the style that's suited for your character. enough said. A construction worker speaks differently than a university professor. And if he doesn't, then it says an awful lot about his character.

When I write I use whatever word is necessary for that passage. If I use a "fancier" word it's because it worked (or at least I think it did! )

However, I try to keep the words simple when writing dialogue because that's how most people speak...unless the speaker is someone that would use a fancy word.

Most of the time my characters fall in the category of less educated and less well read, so I don't use more complex or unusual words. In fact, if the only word I can think of is "fancier" than I think my character will speak, I hit the thesaurus looking for a more common word.

I use whatever types of words that my characters would use. I guess that means my characters could never use more sophisticated words than I would, but there's not really much I could do about that one...

Otherwise, if it's narrative or something similar, I try to keep it pretty casual and when I use a word I try to use ones that will be understood, at least through the context, by most of my target audience.

That being said...as someone who's taken French for while I do know that there are a lot of times when it seems like French has a better way to express something. And even when there are English equivalents, they are usually considered too sophisticated for the context. That's frustrating...but I guess if the reader doesn't know the better way it won't really affect the reading experience...

Perle_Rare said:

Do you find that the words you choose to use are often just the ones you use in daily conversation or do you select more elaborate vocabulary when you write?

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I have a large vocabulary and I use it in daily conversation. No reason to bring it out only on special occasions.

But when I'm writing, I strive to use the right word, not seeking either the fanciest or the most common, just the best.

Scribhneoir said:

But when I'm writing, I strive to use the right word, not seeking either the fanciest or the most common, just the best.

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I agree with this. When I think of how I write compared to how I speak, I don't see a big difference. It is dictated by characters though and one of the only obvious difference is that at times my writing uses more formal language than I use day to day. There are times the $100 word fits with the piece and times when the 25 cent piece of profanity is ideal.

The only use words you would use in everyday is a guideline. I look at it more broadly as don't use a word you don't understand because you don't want to use it incorrectly and look stupid.

ITA -- I neither consciously simplify nor consciously complicate my language. Some characters would speak in a more flowery style; others would speak simply. The right word is the right word.

I haven't read that particular book, but several like it.

I think the issue he has is when aspiring writers succumb to jargon and vocabulary as a way to show how much a writer he or she is. For example, we don't dialogue, we talk or chat.

When I write, I use language that is a little more formal. Writing, though, has the benefit of structure: punctuation, and even the length and formatting of the sentences on the page. Talking doesn't have that, but it does have inflection and emphasis.

Above all, I agree that the best word must be chosen. It doesn't matter if it is an elementary word or a college word. Just has to be the best. (See how I left out the "It"? I wrote like a I talk, but it fit.)

I'm with William Zinzer and William Strunk. Omit needless words. For me, that can sometimes mean downgrading my language.

Sometimes we write to educate. But we always write to communicate.

What good is it if nobody understands?

My vocabulary is my vocabulary, and I rarely use a thesaurus. I don't discriminate between fancy and common; I just use what comes, what fits best. In everyday speech yeah I don't think quite so much about each individual word, so the simple ones are what comes out.

Eh I talk fancy, I writes fancy.

Seriously though it's true, I like playing with words, whether it is when I speak or write. I like the way they feel in the mouth, I like playing with them, and discovering new one, and occasionally I have to look up a word that I might have just spoken, just to make sure I am using it correctly. And yes, I write for kids, but every so often I like to throw in a really good word because I think kids like really good words.

i like what AH said about structure in writing v. unstructured real life conversation. conversation doesn't necessarily have the same needs, though telling (as in talking) a story to someone is different than conversation, too.

the word choices depend on the tone and narration, imo. i have a thesaurus, but it's rarely opened. when i'm seriously writing, and therefore reading, i collect good words. crossword puzzles in the newspaper are a great source of easily understood words, but not words that immediately pop to mind as you write.

so, i have to disagree that you should never use words you wouldn't use in normal conversation. good gawd, why would i do that? most of the people i converse with are idiots. here's another piece of advice worth thinking about (in normal conversation, yes, i'd probably say 'contemplating'): good dialogue isn't necessarily the same thing as *realistic* dialogue.

jamming these two bits of advice together, here's the lesson ~ use words you'd use in real life conversations, but don't make your dialogue realistically conversational.

huh? oh, i get it: use realistic words, just make sure you use them unrealistically. gotcha.

what i learned about new writers from doing a critique or two over the years is often they that's too real, then they wonder why it's boring. on the other end, it's too witty and they wonder why it isn't believable.

that said, i wouldn't use the exact same word choice in the dialogue as i would the narration, either. i would probably fall slightly in the 'elaborate' category in terms of word choice with the idea the words are understandable to anyone, you just may not have seen it in awhile.

the general advice goes something like, 'never say masticate when you can say chew.' agreed.

and let's be honest, who among us hasn't read a book and never had to look at word up?

i'll let everyone in on a little secret: you can read every book on horse racing ever written and guess what? you won't improve your odds of winning one bit. those 'how i got rich betting the ponies' is exactly that ~ 'how *I* got rich.' not you, that guy. follow that guy's system and you're not likely to win any more money than just having a basic knowledge and going with your gut. trust me, people think they've got a 'system' when it comes to playing scratch off lottery tickets. seeing as how their car isn't a lexus, i don't hold much stock in it.

basically, that advice is part of *that guy's* 'system.' it works for him. hell, it even worked for a few other guys, too. i can point to a litany of others and say, 'what about these guys? they're even more successful than you and they don't follow your advice one bit!' it's just more proof that suckers buy into someone else's system in search of the 'magick formula' and wind up getting screwed in the end.

i mean, would anyone actually spend money on a book titled, 'dan brown's how to write guide'?

I don't use a thesaurus, but I don't limit myself to everyday vocabulary in my writing. If it fits, I use it.

I use a dictionary and a thesaurus and select words that fit the character that's speaking. In my work travels I met people on all levels of the education scale, and their vocabulary usually reflected that status. In some cases their use of "big" words was to impress only, in others it was natural.

Seek you own voice, and pay attention when others (with writing experience) tell you if it works or not, and why. Sometimes the right words are not those found in normal conversation. Most important, don't under-estimate the reader. Worse than stumping a reader with an uncommon word is patronizing them with simple-talk. Many readers delight in word play and the use of not-so-common words. We are supposed to paint pictures with words. It seems silly to restrict those paintings to only the most common types of words--kind of like painting with only the basic colors. It can be done, and done effectively, but think of the richness that can come from using an unrestricted palate of intermediate hues.

nevada said:

You write in the style that's suited for your character. enough said. A construction worker speaks differently than a university professor. And if he doesn't, then it says an awful lot about his character.

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I agree with this totally, though it's definitely something I'm learning to do. I tend to make all my characters speak at a much higher level than I do on a daily basis...almost like the kids used to on Dawson's Creek or how the mother/daughter duo spoke together on Gilmore Girls. I have to remind myself that "Hey! She's a 19 year old waitress! She wouldn't say that!"

nevada said:

You write in the style that's suited for your character. enough said. A construction worker speaks differently than a university professor. And if he doesn't, then it says an awful lot about his character.

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Ditto

Yep, what they said.

I believe we all use whatever is appropriate to get the story told. I'm constantly hunting down a word in a thesaurus, one I know I've read or heard that would better suit the passage but can't immediately recall, but i never try to out do my own language.

From what everyone else has said, the idea is to make your words feel natural. If you gum up the plumbing with a lot of odd pipes that run all over the damned place then, eventually, make it to the sink, you'll have crap for water pressure. I know, weird analogy but it was the first thing that came to mind. Writing is just the same. If the words are crisp and draw the reader deeper into the story, Yay Team! If you add a bunch of purple prose and flowery lingo just to make it look intelligent are fancy, then it will detract from the overall flow of the story.

Pike

I do not use a thesaurus. However, the language I use whilst writing, bar dialogue, is usually more eloquent than my spoken English, simply because I generally have no need to use fancy words in conversation. When I am writing, I keep the dialogue simple and normal, at the level of the speaker, but when describing, I do not limit my self to a few words, I instead use the /best/ word, be it fancy or not. I also genaerally try not to use the same boring common word too many times, but vary it a little.

Basically, when speaking, I just use average words, so as to not seem a snob, and I see writing as a chance to use my vocabulary to its full extent. I do try, however, not to go too crazily OTT.

nevada said:

You write in the style that's suited for your character. enough said. A construction worker speaks differently than a university professor. And if he doesn't, then it says an awful lot about his character.

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Not only your character, but also (and more importantly) your narrator.

Who's telling the story? What kind of person -- or what kind of speaker -- is he or she? In fiction it is essential that you create an interesting environment, and the only way to do that is through the narrative tone or mood you set up very early on in the book.

For instance, the narrator of my new novel is a boarding school literature teacher in New England. He's obviously not going to use the same words an urban soup kitchen volunteer or a Southern homemaker is going to use. So you have to build him accordingly, and the only way to construct the narrator properly -- and thus build your world in an exciting, believable way -- is through his language.

So there are times when simplicity must bow to authenticity.

I use the words I know.

Sometimes, however, my memory ain't so good, ya know? So in those cases I do use a Thesaurus, but again, only the words I know.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to artificially make their writing denser than they need to.

I write YA/MG so I feel it would come across rather snooty if I tried throwing fancy words around especially if I'm only doing it in a 'look how smart I am, I know fancy words' sort of way. I like my stories to be smooth and easy to read. But if there is a lesser known word that best fits with what I'm trying to say then I won't hesitate to use it.

I also think if you're truly a good writer you can use the most basic everyday words and still be able to tell a great story. But it also depends on what you're writing about. Of course there are many stories that would come across best with a wide array of uncommon words.