Wording List
Wording is a problem in AP prompts. Choosing the right word to describe the stiuation under consideration is not easy. The task is made more difficult under certain conditions:
A. The student writes in conversational, colloquial fashion substituting descriptive phrases for precise words as "words that grab the reader" rather than "connotative words" or "emotional evocative" words.
B. The student uses the wrong part of speech - a noun instead of an adjective for instance. "The writer uses an encyclopedia style (noun + noun)" instead of "The writer uses an encyclopedic style (adjective + noun)."
C. The student uses a general (and meaningless) word when a more precise word would add information. "The writer uses 'regular' sentences." Rather than writing "The writer uses simple syntax."
In the following pairs the first item is the preferred, more specific or more meaningful:
1. word devoid of emotional connotation NOT plain word.
2. unexpressive wording NOT common words
3. Looking at this text's passages NOT like most of the writing in the world
(generalization)
4. Expressive wording (or 'diction') NOT words one would not normally think
of.
5. Denotative wording NOT dull (or 'boring' or 'plain').
6. Informational material NOT informing material (adjective + noun NOT noun
+ noun)
7. What it is like NOT how it is like.
8. Both writers EXPRESS themselves NOT Each writer EXPRESSES themselves. (Subject
- Verb - Pronoun Agreement).
9. A great NUMBER of people NOT a great AMOUNT of people.
10. Fewer people NOT less people. (Many NOT much people).
