Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

3. What message does the writer of paragraph B
convey about Nicole Bryan?
a. Nicole Bryan is an exceptional employee. Hire
her immediately!
b. Nicole Bryan is an average employee. She
doesn’t do outstanding work, but she won’t
give you any trouble.
c. Nicole Bryan is a lousy worker. Don’t even
think about hiring her.
This time you should have chosen answer a. The
change in diction tells you that this writer thinks Nicole
Bryan is a fantastic employee. To ensure the difference
in word choice is clear, write the words used in para-
graph B to replace the words in paragraph A. The first
replacement has been filled in to get you started.
PARAGRAPH A
PARAGRAPH B
usually
always
on time
carefully
competent
is familiar with
some knowledge
helpful
–
D I C T I O N : W H AT ’ S I N A W O R D ?
–
9 9

---

–
D I C T I O N : W H AT ’ S I N A W O R D ?
–
1 0 0
■
Think about how you choose the words you use when you speak to people. Do you use different types
of words for different people? Do you think carefully about what you say and which words you will use?
How much are you aware of your own diction?
■
Notice how much the meaning of a sentence can change when a single word is altered. Form a sim-
ple sentence, like: “Experts say the economy is 
unhealthy.” Now, replace “unhealthy” with synonyms
that have slightly different connotations, like: 
sick, feeble, ill, dying, under the weather, feverish, infected.
Each word will express a slightly different attitude about your subject to the reader. Insert each of these
words into your sentence and see how much the meaning is altered. (This exercise will work well if
you choose words, like 
rich, tired, happy, or sad, that have many synonyms with a wide range of
connotations.)