A vague word makes the reader guess. A precise word says what you mean. Ask “what exactly?” and the better word usually appears.
This lesson opens the vocabulary in context section. The next skill is learning useful collocations in complete sentences.
How do I turn a vague word into a precise one?
Follow three steps.
- Circle the vague word: good, nice, bad, big, thing, get.
- Ask: what exactly was good, nice or big?
- Write the answer as your new word, and check that the sentence still makes sense.
Worked example: an original paragraph
Before.
The trip was nice. We saw a big waterfall and ate good food. The guide was nice and told us many things. It was a good day.
After.
The trip was memorable. We saw a towering waterfall and ate fresh grilled fish. The guide was friendly and told us stories about the forest. It was an exhausting but rewarding day.
| Vague | Question | Precise choice |
|---|---|---|
| nice (trip) | What kind of nice? | memorable |
| big (waterfall) | How big? | towering |
| good (food) | Good how? | fresh grilled fish |
| nice (guide) | Nice how? | friendly |
| things | What things? | stories about the forest |
| good (day) | Good how? | exhausting but rewarding |
Each new word answers a question that the old word left open. The paragraph is also more interesting to read, because the details are real.
Should I use the hardest word I know?
A word such as “magnificent” is not wrong, but if you use it for a bus ride, it sounds forced. Precision means the word fits the size and the feeling of the thing.
When unsure of a word, choose a simpler precise one. “Crowded” is better than “densely populated” for a canteen at recess.
A common mistake
Many students swap the vague word for a longer vague word. “Good” becomes “wonderful” in every sentence, and the paragraph is still vague because nothing is specific.
Fix it by naming the detail. “The food was wonderful” becomes “The curry was spicy and the rice was fluffy”.
Check yourself
Replace the vague words: “The film was bad. The actor did a bad thing and the ending was bad.”
Answer
A model revision: “The film was disappointing. The actor lied to his best friend and the ending felt rushed.”
“Bad” was split into three different ideas: disappointing for the overall impression, a specific action for the actor and “rushed” for the ending. Different precise words are acceptable if they answer “what exactly?”.
What to study next
Precise words work best with the right partners. Continue with learning useful collocations in complete sentences, or try the vocabulary practice.
For a teacher to go through the vague words in your own writing, see online one-to-one English tuition.