How what we are working on dictates diction

What is diction in writing?

Diction simply means word choice, and word choice greatly changes the theme and tone of your work. For example, “the dog obeyed” presents a different connotation than “the dog listened.” “They’re mad” implies a different connotation than “They’re furious.” A clever writer puts thought into which words convey their message best.

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The eight most common types of diction include:

• Formal: Formal diction follows grammatical rules, polished language, and doesn’t use slang or colloquialisms.
• Informal: Also referred to as “casual diction”, informal diction is the conversational language most representative of how people speak in real life.
• Pedantic: Using highly detailed and technical terms is referred to as pedantic writing. Industry jargon also falls into this category.
• Colloquial: Colloquial writing mimics informal speech from a certain region or time period such as “y’all” from the rural US south.
• Slang: Words that don’t have a formal space in the dictionary but are widely used within a specific culture are slang.
• Abstract: When you use words or phrases to describe something your reader cannot experience with your five senses, you use abstract language.
• Concrete: When you use words for phrases for their literal meaning, you use concrete language.
• Poetic: When you write lyrical words for the way they sound, perhaps set to a beat or rhyme, you use poetic language.

When to use what type of diction

Use different diction techniques depending on the type of work in front of you. Sometimes you should follow strict best practices, other times you can freely choose the words that fit your message best.

Professional writing

When writing a business plan, scholarly paper, or legal document, your goal is to write as precisely as possible and leave no room for different interpretations of your work.

Use formal language throughout the entirety of the piece. Avoid contractions, slang, and abstract writing. Instead, use scholarly diction appropriate for your audience and plain, precise words that do not embellish or sensationalize the subject matter. Depending on the work, you may opt for pedantic writing such as industry jargon, but make sure to define what the jargon means when writing professional pieces.

Creative nonfiction

You see all types of creative nonfiction today: blogs, articles, webpages, memoirs, essays, etc. Generally, your goal is to connect with the audience while presenting information in an entertaining way. Unlike professional writing, creative nonfiction leaves space for interpretation, both on the writer’s end and the readers.

For example, if you’re writing a blog post about the best types of winter boots, use precise language about the boot features like materials used, sizes, etc. However, also use informal language, slang, and colloquialisms to connect with and entertain the audience. A reader looking up types of winter boots seeks information and opinions from a trusted source. Writing in a down-to-earth and familiar way connects you with the reader so they trust the information you present.

Here are some examples to get the idea:

• Formal diction: Nancy Spumoni snow boots are not your average footwear. They are the warmest, comfiest boot you will ever buy.
• Informal diction: Nancy Spumoni snow boots aren’t your average shoe. They’re the warmest, comfiest boot you’ll ever buy.

Persuasive pieces

Words should be strategically selected when writing persuasive pieces like opinion articles or speeches. Positive and negative diction really come into play here. For example:

• Positive diction: The president’s stance on the issue made voters happy.
• Negative diction: The president’s spin on the issue made voters happy.

Just one word changes a sentence’s entire tone and makes the difference between describing a virtuous president or a manipulative one. You can imagine why journalists and speech writers use positive and negative diction techniques so frequently in their writing. Here’s another example:

• Positive diction: Journalists are notoriously good at using diction.
• Negative diction: Journalists are famously good at using diction.

Depending on how you look at it, the fact that journalists use diction techniques to persuade audiences is both a good and bad attribute.

Creative writing

You have more freedom with diction when writing fictional stories. Diction establishes a narrative voice and tone, and therefore the reader’s emotional response. Your goal as a fiction writer is to entertain your readers by bringing them on an emotional literary journey.

With diction as your tool, you can:

• Establish characters that are either good or bad.
• Describe a setting that is either tense or peaceful.
• Use colloquialisms and slang to establish a time and place.
• Write in abstract language to describe things the character sees or feels that cannot be described in just single word.
• Orchestrate your reader’s emotions through your diction.

Always use the right type of diction for the work at hand and try other forms of diction you normally wouldn’t use and see how it changes your writing. You may like what you come up with.