Do You Use a Thesaurus?

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What's the best word?

I have always believed that spontaneous writing is the best form of writing – what comes naturally, is what is right. I can hardly find it in me to revise what I have written unless a few days have passed since I have first written it.

So, not surprisingly, most of my blog posts are served hot from the oven. I have often observed – a few days later – that my post had a mistake, but by then it is too late.

Words are what make a piece of writing what it is. As a writer we have a repository of words, and using them we write whatever we may be writing – a blog post, a magazine article, a short story, or a novel.

But, what do you think is the best word to use?

The one that comes to you most naturally or, do you think that a Thesaurus is a writer’s best friend – one that a writer should consult as frequently as possible.

As I have said before, I believe in what is natural. So, I rarely use the thesaurus unless it is to look for those tip-of-the tongue words. One reason (and I might be wrong with this one) for not using the thesaurus is that when I want to put something on paper, I want to replicate the thought exactly as my mind has imagined it. Since, it is my thought, I feel, it is best expressed in my own words. In that respect, I think, it is rightly said that one’s thoughts are quite affected by one’s language.

Another major reason for not using the thesaurus is that it is easy to get carried away by fancy words, and one can use them just because they are fancy words. Using big words can impress a few people. But if the big words are not relevant, or not needed, then not only does the writer come across as superfluous, but also he alienates many readers.

So, I am a strong proponent of a writer using natural words. What about you?

(Disclaimer: I always recommend the use of a thesaurus, and a dictionary, for learning purposes. After all, one has to keep building on his/her repository of words, so that one is ready with the right word he/she needs it. I just don’t advocate the use of a thesaurus while you are doing the actual writing)

Comments

9 responses to “Do You Use a Thesaurus?”

June 20, 2008

Wanjiku Unlimited

Hi there. First time on your site. Got you from Entrecard.

At last someone who mirrors my thoughts exactly. Many times I’ve tried to write an article and insert big words and crammed phrases but it sounds all heavy English and fake.

But the one day I sit down and write an article in one go straight from the heart/head without too many references it comes out as a real classic. Nice, airy and easy to read. Maybe because that is how we learned to write back in the day. Paper and pen style and no options to keep going back, backspacing here, deleting there and all other delights provided by computers.

I’m also unable to read my articles onces they’re live – maybe much later if at all. Natural writing is the way to go.
June 21, 2008

Angel

I don’t like to use it while I’m writing, but I love to look through the thesaurus for fun. When a word that I find interesting catches my eye, I write it down in my notebook for future use.
June 21, 2008

Webloglearner

the same mistakes happen to me. I am just too lazy to look at what I have written or what i have just done. Even when i took the test to be a CPA, i never reviewed my test answers. I always believe that the first impulse is the right one…. but ofr writing i proved myself wrong.

I needed to read and reread if it’s something important and i need to auto check with ms word for spelling… but for blogs, since it is not very official, i write once and so be it.. no review, nothing.
June 22, 2008

Amanda

I have the habit of proofing as I write (writing a paragraph and then going back to reread) part of my OCD tendency. As I do that I usually find out that I use one word over and over again. The thesaurus (and Thesaurus online) are therefore my best friends and I use them often 🙂
June 23, 2008

Janet

Hi! Found your blog on entrecard. I never know what I am gonna write until I sit down. I blogged about that too! Being too structured would take the fun out of it. I do use the spell check sometimes!
God Bless
June 23, 2008

Tom – StandOutBlogger.com

I dont use a thesaurus for writing blog posts. I like to keep my language simple.
June 24, 2008

Gary R. Hess

I enjoy doing both naturally and thesaurus. It also depends on what I’m writing.
June 24, 2008

Melissa

I agree, spontaneous is best, especially for blogging. I will use a thesaurus if I am reaching for a unique word for a domain or something and I’m stuck but don’t usually end up using the terms I find. Sometimes those new words do end up inspiring me though, so I suppose it works out in the end.
June 6, 2011

Helen Bredson

Sure, spontaneous writing is the best form of writing but I like to review my text after writing. That’s why thesauruses and dictionaries are really useful tools, I sometimes use them in different cases.
By the way, I also use a few online tools, to find some words that will be best suit the situation.