Short on time? This page is the recap. For explanations and worked examples, use the full study guide.
Recap
- Descriptive words (adjectives, adverbs) qualify or modify and also convey perspective.
- Precise word choice reduces confusion and may help the audience perceive the writer’s perspective.
- In reading, explain how word choice contributes to tone or style. In writing, use words strategically.
Key relationships
| Modifier | Perspective conveyed |
|---|---|
| so-called | Doubt |
| regrettable | Reluctance |
| barely, merely | Disapproval, dismissal |
| fortunately | Approval |
| sleek, glossy | Surface over substance (in context) |
| Vague | Precise |
|---|---|
| bad | “ended without a decision” |
| very big | “twice the size of the old hall” |
| went quickly | sprinted |
| said loudly | shouted |
| a lot of things | bicycles, spare parts and maps |
Assumptions and conventions
- Prefer a strong verb to a weak verb plus adverb.
- Prefer numbers and concrete nouns to vague quantities.
- Use a modifier when it adds meaning or attitude that the word it modifies lacks.
- Do not mistake long words for exact words.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using “very”, “really” and “a lot” as fillers.
- Stacking adjectives (“a big, large, huge building”).
- Vague nouns (thing, stuff, issue).
- A loaded modifier with no support.
- Choosing a fancy word that is not exact.
- Listing modifiers in analysis without saying what they convey.
- Ignoring how modifiers show perspective in a reading question.
Worked mini-example
Vague: “The shop was very busy and a lot of people were there.”
Precise: “By ten, the queue stretched past the window, and the two tills could not keep up.”
The precise version replaces “very busy” and “a lot of people” with details the reader can picture and check. If the writer also wants to convey perspective, a modifier such as “hopelessly” before “could not keep up” would add a judgement the details support.
On the exam
When asked to improve a sentence, choose the revision that replaces vague words with exact ones. When asked what a modifier conveys, name the attitude it adds to the noun or verb.
Sentence frames for analysis
- “The modifier ‘…’ shows the writer’s … attitude toward ….”
- “By giving the exact figure ‘…’ instead of a general word such as ‘…’, the writer makes the claim checkable.”
- “The verb ‘…’ is more precise than ‘…’ because it shows ….”
- “The adverb ‘…’ conveys the writer’s …, since it suggests ….”
Fill each blank with quoted words and say what the choice does for the argument.
Quick self-check
- What does “so-called” convey in “a so-called solution”? (The writer doubts that it is a solution.)
- Replace “went quickly” with a precise verb. (Sprinted, dashed, hurried.)
- Why is “the meeting was bad” a weak sentence? (It is vague: the reader does not know what was bad.)
Next: practice questions.