Words are a writer’s tools. Choosing the correct tool for the task allows a writer to communicate effectively. An imprecise word choice, however, can derail a writing task and leave readers confused and frustrated.

The sufficient server brought menus and took our orders quickly.

Sufficient means “adequate” or “enough,” but the more effective word in this context is efficient. Because the server takes the orders quickly, we know he is more than adequate—he is skilled. The words efficient and sufficient not only sound alike, but are close in meaning. Choosing precise words is a skill that writers practice to improve their craft.

Words can have both connotative and denotative meanings. The denotation of a word is its literal definition. The words home, residence, abode, and domicile all share the same denotation—all refer to the place where someone lives. But we say “Home is where the heart is”—not “The residence is where the heart is”—for a good reason. The word home carries connotations of belonging, relaxation, and security. Connotations indicate emotional or cultural associations and can suggest positive or negative overtones.

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Denotative Celebrity photographers take pictures of the rich and famous.

Connotative The paparazzi hound the rich and famous.

In the above example, celebrity photographers is denotative and describes a profession matter-of-factly, while paparazzi evokes a negative connotation and transforms professionals into parasites exploiting their targets.

Knowing the different connotations of words allows you a greater range in tone and more precision in description.

A cliché can kill writing dead as a doornail. A cliché is a phrase or saying that has been used so many times it no longer offers meaningful or fresh language that engages the reader.

When a writer uses a cliché, readers may pass over it because they’ve seen and heard those words so often. Precise, detailed, and fresh communication is necessary to keep readers’ attention.

Some common clichés include:

To avoid using clichés, diagnose your own writing and find the clichés you rely on. If you favor the phrase first and foremost, then use the search function in your document and either delete the phrase or replace it with a precise word choice. When you find a cliché in your writing, ask yourself how you can describe or explain something more clearly in your own words.

An idiom is an expression or phrase peculiar to a particular group or area. Idioms tend to consist of conversational language and are employed more usually in informal writing than in academic writing. Idioms can enrich writing by adding local color. For instance, in the case of ordering a carbonated beverage, someone from the northeastern United States orders a “soda,” someone in the South orders a “Coke” no matter what brand the soft drink is, and a customer in the Midwest asks for a “pop.” However, if your readers are not familiar with a particular idiom, you risk confusing your audience.

Idiomatic expressions rely on certain words in a certain order and only retain their meaning if used correctly. Pay close attention to the prepositions and articles in an idiomatic expression. If you write that your ninety-two-year-old neighbor kicked the bucket, your readers know that your neighbor died. However, if you write that your neighbor “kicked a bucket,” your readers will wonder why your neighbor was angry. If you relax and let off steam by exercising, be sure you don’t confuse yourself with a teapot by writing that you “let out steam.”