Provide guidelines for selecting appropriate words in sentence.

Suggestions for Selecting Words: A major part of adaptation is selecting the right words. These are the words that communicate best that have correct and clear meanings in reader’s mind. Selecting the right words depends on your ability to use language, your knowledge of the reader and your good judgment. Here are some suggestions to help you select such words.

Selection of Words

· Using familiar words

· Using slang and popular cloche with caution

· Choosing short words

· Using technical words and acronyms with caution

· Using concrete language

· Using active verbs

· Selecting words with precise meanings

(i) Using Familiar Words: Using the simplest words that carry the meaning without offending the readers’ intelligence.

Unfamiliar Words...

· Ms. Smith’s idiosyncrasies supply adequate justification for terminating her employment.

· If liquidation becomes mandatory; we shall dispose of these assets first.

Familiar Words...

· Ms Smith’s peculiar ways justify firing her.

· We shall remove these assets first in case of financial collapse.

(ii) Using Slang and Cliché with Caution: Cliché is an everyday expression, often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.

Examples of Cliché:

· in today’s society

· pros and cons

· winds of change

· long arm of the law

· all walks of life

(iii) Choosing Short Words: Short words communicate better than long words though all short words are not easy to understand.

Long Words…

The decision was predicated on the assumption that an abundance of monetary funds was forthcoming.

Familiar Words...

The decision was based on the belief that there would be more money.

(iv) Using Technical Words and Acronyms

Technical Words: The words that are used in any specific field or area. For example: words or terms in finance, medicine, architecture, law; etc.

Direct Cost: Direct Cost is the technical word, which is more familiar to individuals working in the area of accounting.

Acronyms: Acronym is the brief version of a collection or set of interrelated words.

BIDS is the acronym of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

(v) Using Concrete Language: Concrete words are those, which form sharp, clear, and specific meanings in the mind of the readers.

Abstract words are vague and have more generalized meaning.

Abstract Language	Concrete Language
The leading company	First among 50 companies
The majority	68 percent
Substantial amount	Taka 10,000,000
A large number	50,000 thousand student

(vi) Using Active Verbs: Overuse of the verb “to be” and “Passive voice’’ take away the strength of the language.

“To be” verb...

“…customer service officers’ main tasks are to receive complaints, and to give answers to questions.”

Active Verb...

“…customer service officers receive complaints and give answers to questions.” Using Active Voice

Passive...

The policy has been supported by our country.

The product will be introduced by the XYZ Company.

An increase of 20.50 percent was reported for hardware sales.

Active...

Our country supported the policy.

The XYZ Company will introduce the product.

Hardware sales increased 20.50 percent.

Avoid Overuse of Camouflaged Verbs

A verb describing the action in a sentence takes the form of a noun is termed as camouflaged verb.

Action Verb	Noun Form	Camouflaged Verbs
Appear	Appearance	Make an appearance
Appraise	Appraisal	Make an appraisal
Discuss	Discussion	Have a discussion
Liquidate	Liquidation	Effect liquidation