Effective%20Word%20Choice

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Effective Word Choice
Chapter Forty-three

• College Writing Skills, 5E and College Writing
  Skills with Readings, 5EJohn Langan

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Slang

• Slang is usually out of place in formal writing.
• Some drawbacks to using slang expressions
• They go out-of-date quickly.
• They become tiresome if used excessively.
• They may communicate clearly to some readers but
  not to others.

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Slang
Examples

• Someone ripped off Kens new Adidas.
• After the game, we stuffed our faces at the
  dinner.
• I finally told my parents to get off my case.

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Clichés
A cliché is an expression that has been worn out
through constant use.
Short but sweet
Word to the wise
Sigh of relief
At a loss for words
Saw the light
Work like a dog
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Pretentious Words
Trying to use fancy, elevated words rather than
simple natural words may make your sentences
sound stilted. Pretentious It was a splendid
opportunity to get some slumber. Simple It was
a good chance to get some sleep.