Also use your thesaurus when you need a different word to say
what you’ve already said. If you’ve been using the word simplesev-
eral times in an article, find another word that says the same thing.
Keep your writing fresh and your readers interested by finding
simple words to express your thoughts.
Since I have an online thesaurus, I’ll use it right now to find an-
other word for simple.
As it turns out, there are a couple of dozen synonyms for simple.
Even I was surprised! Here are a few words from the alternatives:
Clear Natural
Intelligible Neat
Lucid Plain
Understandable Unadorned
Unmistakable Unaffected
Here’s what I would do with this list: I’d scan it and look at all
the shortwords that would fit in my writing. I’d skip words like un-
derstandable. Even though it is simple, I want the mostdirect word
I can find.Neatand plainare good bets because they are only one
syllable.Lucidsounds like it would work but I’m not sure everyone
understands what it means. For that reason, I’d skip it.
A thesaurus is a handy tool to have at your side (or on your
computer) because it gives you options. When you need a simple
word to replace a long or complicated one, open your thesaurus.
When you need to find a word to replace an overused one, use your
thesaurus. It’s a simple (there’s that word again) but powerful way
to make your writing hypnotic.USE A SIMILE BOOK
As One Mad with Wine and Other Similesshould also go on your
shelf. I don’t always find it inspiring, but using it is as compelling as
a gun at your head. Thumb through it to find colorful phrases to
clarify your writing.
A simile, by the way, is a phrase used to compare two different
ideas. When I said the book was “as compelling as a gun at your
head,” I was using a simile.HYPNOTIC WRITING