Tip 23 : Get a thesaurus

In the pursuit of 'the right word', a thesaurus is your greatest ally. As a professional writer, I own the largest thesaurus I could get my hands on, and it's paid for itself hundreds of times over.

The English language is vast in size - Can't quite put your finger on the right word to describe how good something is? My thesaurus tells me that there are well over 50 synonyms, with varying levels of intensity - anywhere from acceptable to stupendous.

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that there are plenty thesaurus websites online, and that they often include slang and colloquialisms that wouldn't be included in a paper copy. Language is constantly evolving, and the only way to truly keep an accurate record is to use digital media. With that said, there are two reasons why I use a physical thesaurus in place of the electronic alternative:

-Any words that have come into being since the last paper thesaurus edition are potentially unsuitable for a formal document. The internet is a wonderful source of distractions, so I minimise my use of it during writing assignments
- I suggest you do the same if you're also prone to being distracted!

Tip 24 :Don't use a word that may not be understood

Sometimes you'll find a word that epitomises the meaning you're trying to convey, but isn't necessarily in common use. If that's the case, it's usually safest not to include it, even if the alternative is using two or more words where one would have done.

Interpolate, for example, has a very specific meaning which isn't adequately expressed by any other word that I'm aware of. I wouldn't use it in a personal statement, though, because I couldn't be certain that the person responsible for reading the statement would understand its meaning.

Choosing which words to use is largely a judgement call, and it helps to have a strong feel for the industry or subject area you're applying for. Scientific terminology would be fine when applying for a PhD placement, as these statements are generally reviewed by faculty members, but not necessarily when applying for a technical job where it might be read by someone from HR.

If in doubt, leave it out.

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