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Writers Choose Words Carefully to Create Specific Effects
Definition
Diction
The specific words an author chooses to use.
- Some words hit hard.
- Others feel soft, vague, abstract, poetic, cold, or emotional.
- The task is to notice which words stand out and why the writer chose them.
Concrete Diction
Definition
Concrete diction
Concrete diction makes writing feel vivid and emotionally charged.
- Concrete diction refers to words that describe specific, physical things, what you can see, touch, hear, or feel.
- “Smashed” vs “Tapped”
- “Sweat” vs “Tears”
- “Grip” vs “Hold”
- “Stumbled” vs “Walked”
- “Snapped” vs “Broke”
Example
- Each pair means something similar but creates a very different feeling.
- “He snapped the pencil” feels sharp and violent.
- “He broke the pencil” feels slower, more neutral.
