When you are looking for just the right word, you may want to consult a collection of synonyms and antonyms such as Roget’s International Thesaurus or Thesaurus.com. Look up the adjective still, for example, and you will find synonyms such as tranquil, quiet, quiescent, reposeful, calm, pacific, halcyon, and placid. The list will likely contain words you’ve never heard of or with which you are only vaguely familiar. Whenever you are tempted to use one of these words, first look it up in the dictionary to avoid misusing it.

Do not turn to a thesaurus in search of exotic, fancy words to embellish an essay. Look instead for words that express your meaning exactly and that are familiar to both you and your readers.