The Writer's Toolkit: Word Choice (Diction)
Painting with Words for Precision and Impact
What is Diction?
Diction simply means "word choice." While it sounds simple, it's one of the most important skills a writer can develop. The specific words you choose have a massive impact on your writing's clarity, tone, and overall effect. A strong writer doesn't just choose a word that is "correct"; they choose the word that is "perfect." This involves thinking about not just the literal meaning of a word, but also the feelings and ideas it suggests.
Denotation vs. Connotation
Denotation (The Dictionary Definition)
This is the literal, dictionary definition of a word. It's the core meaning without any emotion attached.
For example, the words "house" and "home" have the same denotation: a building where someone lives.
Connotation (The Emotional Meaning)
This is the emotional or cultural association a word carries. It's the "vibe" the word gives off.
While "house" is neutral, the word "home" has a positive connotation of warmth, family, and comfort.
A good writer chooses words with the right connotation for their purpose. For example, would you describe a character as "confident" (positive connotation) or "arrogant" (negative connotation)?
Deconstruction & Application
1. Deconstruction: For each pair of words below, identify which has a more positive connotation and which has a more negative one.
A) A mob of people / A crowd of people
B) A slender cat / A scrawny cat
2. Application: Rewrite the sentence below twice. First, use words with a positive connotation. Second, use words with a negative connotation to describe the same basic event.
"The person walked into the room."
Positive:
Negative:
3. (Critical Thinking) How could a politician use diction to their advantage when describing an opponent's policy? Provide a brief example.
📚 NZ Curriculum Alignment
English - Reading/Viewing
Achievement Objective: RV4-4
Evaluate language choices and their effects on meaning
Key Competencies
- • Thinking critically about language use
- • Using language symbols and texts