Exact Language

section tbeme THE LEGAL WORLD

CON TEhITS
Use Specific and
Detailed Vocabulary
Avoid Wordiness
and Redundancy
Avoid Clich6s
Standard English
vs. Slang

In tbis cbaptn, you will read aboat

cimes and crirninals.

Che Writer's Des6. Warm Up

Write a paragraph that summarizes the events of a well-known
crime. Describe what happened.

Use Specific and Detailed Vocabulary

Great writing evokes an emotional response from the reader. Great writers not
only have correct grammatical structures, but they also infuse their writing with
precise and vivid details that make their work come alive.
When you proofread your work, revise words that are too vague. Vague
words lack precision and detail. For example, the words nice and bad are vague.
Readers cannot get a clear picrure from them.
Compare the following sets of sentences.
 CIIAPTER 31 Exact Language 45I

Vague: The movie was bad.

Precise: The crime drama contained violent, gory scenes.
Vague: Our instructor told us about the death ofJulius Caesar.
Precise: Our history instructor, Dr. London, recounted howJulius
Caesar was murdered on March 15, 44 s.c.

Creating Vivid Language

When you choose the precise word, you convey your meaning exacdy.
Moreover, you can make your writing clearer and more impressive by using
specific and detailed vocabulary. To create vivid language, ty the next strategies.
. Modi& your nouns. If your noun is vague, make it more specific by adding
one or more adjectives. You could also rename the noun with a more specific
term.
Vague: the man
Vivid: the shopkeeper the thin, nervous soldier
t Modi& your verbs. IJse more vivid, precise verbs. You could also use adverbs.

Vague: walk
Vivid: saunter stroll march briskly
I Include more details. Add more information to make the sentence more
complete.
Vague: Several signs foretold of Caesar's murder.
Precise: Several ominous signs, such as Caesar's horses getting loose
and a soothsayer's warning, foretold of Caesar's impending
death.

Use lmagery

You can make your writing come alive by using imagery, which is description using
the five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. ln the examples, the underlined
words add details to the sentence and contribute to a more exact description.
The one-eyed, scar-faced pirate iabbed his sword at the frightened crew. Section 7
WORD USE
AND SPELLING

PRACTICE I

Replace the familiar words in parentheses with more vivid words or phrases, and
add more specific details. tlse your dictionary or thesaurus if you need help.
EXAMPLE:
Graffiti artists (write) scrawl words and Piclures on walls.

1. Many cities spend a lot of money (cleaning)

graffiti.
 CIIAPTER 31 Exact Language 453

Avoid Wordiness and Redundancy

Sometimes srudents fill their writing assignments with extra words to meet length
requirements. However, good ideas can get easily lost in work that is too wordy.
Nso, if the explanations are unnecessarily long, then writing becomes boring'
To improve your writing style, use only as many words or phrases as you
need to fully explain your ideas.
The police departnentwas a distance of two blocks from the municipal
library. '

(A block is a measure of a distance, so it is unnecessary to repeat that information.)

CorrectingWordiness
You can cut tlte number of words needed to express an idea by substituting a
wordy phrase with a single word. You could also remove the wordy phrase
completely.
Bec.ause
@we did a survelz, we found that mostyoung
college students do not study criminology.

Some Common Wordy Expressions and Substitutions

Word Better Better
at that point in time then, at that time gave the appearance of looked like
big, small in size big, small great, few in number great, few
in close proximity close or in proximity in order to to
a difficult dilemma a dilemma in spite ofthe fact in spite of
due to the fact because in the final analysis finally, lastly
equally as good as as good as time
period of period
exacdy the same the same past history past or history
tll
exceptions to the rule exceptions return agarn return
final completion end still remain remain
for the purpose of for a true fact afact

PRACTICE 3

In the next sentences, cross out all unnecessary words or phrases, or modifit any
repeated words. Section 7
EXAMPLE: WORD USE
AND SPELLING
manY
In 1970,a€fee€+#$€f€f people were interested in Charles Manson's trial.

L. In 1969, Los Angeles citizens were terrified due to the fact that a killer was

in their midst.

2. Ltthat point in time, nobody knew why innocent people were being

murdered.
 CTIAPTER 32 Spelling and Comrnonly Confused Words 469

Using a Spelling Check

The spelling and grammar tool on a computer will highlight most missPelled words
and provide suggested corrections. Be aware that a spelling checker's abilities are
limited; it cannot verify that you have used commonly confused words accurately. For
example, it cannot determine whether you should use your or you're.
Because a spelling checker is not 100 percent reliable, remember to proofread
for spelling errors before you submip your final work'

Look-Alike and Sound-Alike Words

Sometimes two English words can sound the same but have different spellings
and differettt -..ttittgs. For example, two commonly confused words are
d,efiantly, which means "to resist or challenge something," and definitely, which-
the exact meaning of
-""rr, "finally" or "decisively." Dictionaries will give youwith
unfamiliar words. Read the next list to get familiar many commonly
confused words.

Word Meaning Example

accept to receive or to admit Margaret Hamilton accePted an
award for best crime fiction'
except excluding or other Everyone in the audience, excePt lan,
than has read at least one of her novels.
affect to influence Writers block affects p".ron'r'rbiliry
to write.
"
effect the result of Writer's block can have bad effects on

been past participle of the Ms. Cromwell has been a detective

verb to be for many years.
being present progressive She was being very nice when signing
form (the -i,ng form) autographs.
of the verb to be
by preposition meaning The robber sat !I the river bank.9Y
next to, on, or nightfall, the police had stoPPed
before searching for her.They hoped to find
her !y the end of the month.
buy verb meaning to The robber will buy a mansion with Section 7
purchase the stolen money. WORD USE
AND SPELLING
complement to add to or to The mansion was a nice comPlement
complete to her other possessions.
compliment to say something nice Detective Smartson comPliments the
about someone other detectives.
consclence a personal sense of The robber had no conscience.
right or wrong
consclous to be aware or to be The robber was conscious of his
awake terrible crime.
disinterested to be impartial The trial judge was disinterested,
favoring neither side.
uninterested to lack interest in The robber tried to look uninterested
something wl'9n to!! of his sentence.
(continued)
 lt, PART ry The Editing Handbook

Word Meaning Example

elicit to get or draw out The police tried to elicit a confession
from the gang member.
illicit illegal or unlawful The police found evidence of the
gang's illicit activities.
everyday ordinary or common Crime is an everyday occurrence.
every day during a single day or The police have watched the gang
each day members every day.
imply to suggest The reporter implied that the police
need more time to investigate.
infer to conclude The police inferred from the clues the
gang's whereabouts.
imminent soon to happen The police stated that an arrest was
imminent.
eminent distinguished or Drake Weatherby was an eminent
suPeflor detective.
its possessive case of the Drake Weatherby's car was vandalized,
pronoun it and its windshield was shattered.
it's contraction for lt is It's generally known that he is very
good at solving crimes.
knew past tense of to know Weatherby knew that thieves had
stolen the diamonds.
recent or unused He had a new contact in the
underworld.
know to have knowledge of He knows that I like to read about
famous crimes.

lose to misplace or for-feit The police did not want to lose track
something of the stolen diamonds.
loose too big or baggy, or Detectives sometimes wear loose
not fixed clothing as part of their disguises.
loss a decrease in an The bank experienced a serious loss
amount or a serious when the diamonds were stolen.
blow
Peace calm, or to stop The two rival gangs finally made
violence peace.They felt a sense of peace when
hostilities stopped.
Section 7 piece a part of something The thieves sold the piece of jewelry.
WORD USE else
AND SPELLING
personal private The criminal has a lot of personal
problems.
personnel employees or staff The police must hire new pgrsonnel.
principal marn Person, or The principal detective talked to the
director of a school principal of our school.
principle rule or standard The police try to follow the principle
of law.
 CHAPTER 32 Spelling and Commonly Confused Words 471

Word Meaning Example

quiet silent The thieves remained quiet when
arrested.
quite very The public is becoming quite angry at
the increase in crime.
quit stoP The detective sometimes wants to
quit the force.
taught past tense of teoch Drake taught a class on criminology.
thought past tense of think He thought his students were
intelligent.
than word used to compare Jack the Ripper is more interesting
things than other criminals.
then at a particular time or She investigated the crime, and then
after a specific time she wrote about it
that word used to introduce She wrote thatWalter Sickert was the
a clause Ripper.
their possessive form of they The police officers went to their
favorite restaurant,
there a place They went there by police van.
they're contraction of they ore Thev're both interesting people.
through in one side and out The police cruiser passed through a
the other; finished tunnel.
They were through for the day.
threw past tense of throw Somebody threw a rock at the officer's
car.
thorough complete They did a thorough investigation of
the crime scene.
to indicates direction or I want to go to the film.
movement, or is
part of an infinitive
too also or very The robber felt too guilty about her
life of crime. Her friend felt guilty, too.
two the number after one There were two witnesses to the
holdup.
where question word The police knew where the diamonds
indicating location were hidden.
were past tense of be The diamonds were in a safe place.
Section 7
wetre contraction of we ore We're going to meet the detectives.
WORD USE
write to draw symbols that Margaret Hamilton writes about AND SPELLING
rePresent words crime.
right correcg or the oPPosite The police officer held the diamonds
of the direction left in his right hand.The police knew that
they had arrested the right criminal.
who's contraction of who is The police sergeant, who's a friend,
spoke to reporters.
whose pronoun showing Criminals, whose crimes hurt society,
ownership must be punished.