Syaidati Ifdari : A Brief Description Of How To Enrich And Use Learner’s English Vocabulary, 2009. USU Repository © 2009
- Affect verb meaning, “to influence”
Effect verb meaning, “to bring about something”; noun meaning “result”
The full effects of marijuana and alcohol on the body are only partly known; However, both drugs clearly affect the brain in various ways.
Finally, you should learn the function the word that have same sound, but different meaning and spelling, or same meaning but different function in the
sentences. Therefore, we would not be confused to choose word exactly in conversation or writing.
4.2 Effective Word Choice
In writing, you should choose word carefully. Effective word choice means you must have enough vocabulary. You must know word exactly in
writing. We should develop the habit of selecting words that are appropriate and exact for our purposes. One way we can show sensitivity to language is by
avoiding slang, clichés, and pretentious words.
Slang
We often use slang expression when we talk because they are so vivid and colorful. However, slang is usually out of place in formal writing. Here are some
examples of slang expression:
My girlfriend got straight with me by saying she wanted to see other man My boss keeps riding me about coming to work late.
The crowd was psyched up when the game began.
Syaidati Ifdari : A Brief Description Of How To Enrich And Use Learner’s English Vocabulary, 2009. USU Repository © 2009
Slang expressions have a number of drawbacks: they go out of date quickly, they become tiresome of use excessively in writing and they may
communicate clearly too some readers but not to others. In addition, the use of slang can be a way of evading the specific detail that are often needed to make
one’s meaning clear in writing. For example, in “The tires on the Corvette make the car look like some thing else,” the writer has not provided the details about the
tires necessary for us to understand the statement clearly. In general, then, you should avoid slang in your writing. If you are in doubt about whether an
expression is slang, it may help to check a recently published hardbound dictionary.
Examples: The movie was a real bomb, so we cut out early slang
The movie was terrible, so we left early formal word
Clichés
A cliché is an expression that has been worn out through constant use Langan, 2002:531. Some typical clichés are listed below:
All work and no play saw the light
At a loss for words short but sweet
Better late than never sigh of relief
Drop in the bucket singing the blues
Easier said than done taking a big chance
Had a hard time of it time and time again
In the nick of time too close for comfort
Syaidati Ifdari : A Brief Description Of How To Enrich And Use Learner’s English Vocabulary, 2009. USU Repository © 2009
In this day and age too little, too late
It dawned on me took a turn for the worse
It goes without saying under the weather
Last but not least where he she is coming from
Make ends meet word to the wise
On top of the world work like a dog
Sad but true According to Langan 2002:532
“Cliché are common in speech but make your writing seem tired and stale. In addition, cliché like slang, they are often a way of evading the specific details
that we must work to provide in our writing. We should avoid cliché and try to express our meaning in fresh, original ways”.
Examples: I passed the test by the skin of my teeth cliché
I barely passed the test trite expression
Pretentious word
According to Langan 2002:532 says, “some people feel that they can improve their writing by using fancy,
elevated words rather than simple, natural words. They use artificial and stilted language that more often obscures their meaning than communicates it clearly”.
Here are some unnatural-sounding sentences: I comprehend her statement.
While partaking of our morning meal, we engaged in an animated conversation. I am a stranger to excessive financial sums.
Law enforcement officers directed traffic when the lights malfunctioned.
Syaidati Ifdari : A Brief Description Of How To Enrich And Use Learner’s English Vocabulary, 2009. USU Repository © 2009
The same thoughts can be expressed more clearly and effectively by using plain, natural language, as below:
I understood what she said While eating breakfast, we had a lively talk.
I have never had much money Police officers directed traffic when the lights stopped working.
4.3 New Word in English
