Using a Thesaurus: Four Subtleties of Synonyms

photo credit: kiki-bolivien

Variety is the spice of life, right? In most cases it is also a common ingredient in interesting, high-quality writing. We all have words that we find ourselves using over and over. Mine is “great.” When I am working on an article, I try my best to find stronger adjectives and not get too repetitive.

Increasing your vocabulary can make your content more compelling and engrossing for your readers. The best way to build your vocabulary is to read, but a solid and varied vocabulary takes years to build. Sometimes you just want to avoid repeating the same word six times in two paragraphs. When you’re in this situation, the best way to solve your issue is to use a thesaurus.

I’m going to assume you all know what a thesaurus is, but I would like to note that the easiest type of thesaurus to use is one that is organized alphabetically like a dictionary. There are thesauri organized based on context and association, but these are full of cross-references and can be quite tricky to use. An alphabetic thesaurus is straight-forward and extremely easy to use.

A thesaurus is an excellent tool, but you still need to pay close attention to the words you choose. Indiscriminately switching words can cause huge changes to the feel, style and overall meaning of an article. Here are four major considerations to make when using a thesaurus to find synonyms.

Each Synonym has a Slightly Different Meaning

Though thesauri may offer many synonyms (and often antonyms, which can also come in handy) for a word, not every single suggestion will be appropriate for your specific article. While the words listed may mean essentially the same thing, even the slightest variations in definition are crucial.

For example, let’s say that you are writing a feature article on a pair of identical twins. You are discussing what makes them each unique and have used the word “difference” several times already. By consulting the dictionary, you find a large list of alternate words meaning “difference.” Take a look at how a few of these synonyms can dramatically change your sentence:

• Original Sentence: “Though the twins are identical, given time you can begin to see their differences.”
• Alternative 1: “Though the twins are identical, given time you can begin to see their aberrations.”
• Alternative 2: “Though the twins are identical, given time you can begin to see their idiosyncrasies.”
• Alternative 3: “Though the twins are identical, given time you can begin to see their distinctions.”

As you can see, each of the four sentences have very different meanings despite the use of very close synonyms. There is a huge chasm between calling a difference an “aberration” and calling it a “distinction.” While all four sentences essentially carry the same meaning, the tone and feel vary drastically.

Consider the Context

When you are selecting just the right synonym for a particular word, you must carefully consider the context in which you will be using it. As with the example above, you most likely don’t want to call differences between twins “aberrations.” The word carries with it the connotation of wrongness, rather than just variation. At the same time, the word “idiosyncrasies” carries with it the idea of quirkiness or eccentricity.

By selecting the right word, you can speak volumes and also set a desired tone. On the flipside, you can send the reader running in the wrong direction, causing them to misunderstand your meaning or even go so far as to offend them (certainly a parent wouldn’t want his/her twins’ differences to be called aberrations).

Knowing the context of your writing is as vital as knowing what you are going to write. If you are unclear on how you want the piece to “feel” then how can you expect your reader not to be unclear as well? If you are aware of and focused on a particular tone throughout your article, it will be easier to bring in the perfect synonyms to add just the right amount of variety in both meaning and tone.

Avoid Outdated or Obscure Words

Many thesauri will include as many synonyms as can possibly be found for a particular word. While this can be very helpful in providing variety for your writing, it also gives you more to which you should pay attention.

There are many words in the English language that we simply do not use anymore. These outdated words should be avoided. While variation is important, it isn’t so important that you need to send your readers running for a dictionary (or Google) in order not to repeat a word.

Also keep in mind that words can change over time in both overall meaning and in connotation. A good example of this is the word “queer.” Less than a century ago this word generally meant weird or odd. Nowadays it almost exclusively refers to a person in the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning) community. While it is still sometimes used to mean odd, it is best – especially on the web – not to use it that way. Saying that your brother is “queer” instead of “strange” will only confuse your readers. Some people also find the word offensive in connotation and you are running the risk of alientating those readers.

While using your thesaurus, you may also be tempted to use “big” words in an attempt to impress your readers with your knowledge. While a large, varied vocabulary can be impressive, you must consider your audience when choosing synonyms. If you are writing a thesis to be read by professionals, then using specific, somewhat obscure terminology can be entirely appropriate. On the other hand, if you are blogging for the masses using overly complicated language can come off as pretentious or awkward or both. If you keep your readers in mind when writing, you will generally be able to make the right word choices.

Establishing your own Style

The more you write, the more you may find yourself establishing a certain style of your own. This is a good thing. However, this is another case where you need to consider your readers and also consider the type of reputation you want to create for yourself.

While some style elements will come naturally, you will reach certain crossroads where you’ll need to make a choice. Consider these questions:

• Do you want to use humor? If so, what type?
• Do you use a certain type of slang in your writing? How does your audience respond to this?
• Is profanity acceptable to you? Will it limit or turn people off to your writing?
• Are you trying to establish yourself as an expert or authority on a certain subject?

Each of these questions is important because they all will help you make decisions about your writing style. As a general rule, if you want to become a respected authority in a subject you will avoid profanity. This is simply the case because articles including profanity will always alienate a certain percentage of your audience.

On the other hand, if you are writing in a humorous or sarcastic style, you may find that profanity is completely acceptably – and even effective. It’s no secret that, when used properly, obscenities provide a certain unique punch. But whether you are using them to shock, emphasize or create a connection with your readers, profanity (especially certain especially vulgar words) is not – and probably will never be – universally accepted.

In the same vein, the use of slang can help you connect to certain readers while leaving others out. Also keep in mind that if you are “trying” to use a type of slang that is not a natural part of who you are or where you came from, this lack of authenticity will soon show through. You should not use slang as a gimmick, but only as part of your personal style if it is, in fact, part of your personal style.

As a writer of any type, you should always clearly understand the meaning of words you are using and also the various connotations or other definitions those words may hold. The thesaurus is an excellent tool for writers, but it has its limits. You must use it discriminantly to create variation and – if you are lucky – find a word even better than the one you originally intended to use.

Final Note: Though I recommend you purchase a thesaurus in book format, you can also find many online. My favorite is Thesaurus.com. You can download Thesaurus search options to your search box in both IE and Firefox using add-ons. It just takes a few seconds and you’ll be able to search Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com without having to go to the website.