Believe it or not, writers sometimes agonize about which word to choose. So how do they decide?
First of all, a writer needs to realize that words are defined by both their denotation and their connotation. The denotation is the dictionary definition, but the connotation is the emotion and feeling that goes along with the word. It is the difference between the word "jog" and "flee". Both entail some kind of running, but jogging sounds fun. Fleeing sounds like a person is running from something dangerous. There is a connotation difference.
Every word an author chooses has to add to the tone of the piece, and connotation helps with that. If nothing else, know if the word you are choosing has a positive or a negative connotation. If you are writing a battle scene, you don't want words with positive connotations -- unless your character is winning!
Some people use a thesaurus to help them choose the right word. Sometimes I do. But you can't just choose any word from the list of synonyms. Know the definition of the word, and certainly make sure you know its connotation so that you can decide if it is adding to the piece's overall tone.
Next Up: How Do You Know When You are Done?
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