zlacker

>>cosmoj+(OP)
I couldn't disagree more with this piece, especially the idea of a "draft #4" where you go through what you've written and replace all "pedestrian" words with less common ones from the dictionary. I know these writers, and how they "write" - it's painful to read and oozes pretentiousness. You can always tell when someone tries to fake having a wider vocabulary.

>>suctio+l9
The whole point here is not to mindlessly replace words but to be able to find words that more accurately describe what you are trying to convey. The expanded definitions and examples are great starting points for digging deeper into both the language and the underlying motivation.

>>adzm+Fa
I understand it wasn't meant to be "mindlessly", I don't appreciate you putting words in my mouth.

Still, if you don't have the more accurate word in your vocabulary, then don't use it. It will sound stilted and unnatural in the context of your sentence.

>>suctio+cb
There is a difference between active and passive vocabulary though. Just because you can't think of a word right now, doesn't mean that you and your readers wouldn't easily understand it.

That being said, for anything that you want to be sure your readers understand, "write like you talk". http://www.paulgraham.com/talk.html