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
I get what you're saying, and agree. When I was in middle school I'd shamelessly use MS Word to replace words in my reports with fancy sounding synonyms that I had never heard of before. I kind of cringe at the memory. But on the other hand, that's also kind of how I got them to be in my vocabulary. I feel like once you commit to a new word in your own writing, you start seeing it everywhere and getting a feel for how it's naturally being used.

>>asxd+Eb
Exactly. This curmudgeonly proposal that ones vocabulary remain immutable is for the dags and curs whose life has not been rewarded by the virtues of newly discovered language.

>>boffin+Rg
Making up words is fun for the writer, but it often not fun for the reader. Like the popular perception of poetry. Few people have a deep knowledge of their own language or other languages, so their inventions come across as childish.

Your own usage of “dags” is frustrating because as a reader from Australasia, “dag” has a common meaning. Example usages: “You’re a dag”, “Fred Dagg”, “rattle your dags”, “clean up those daggy sheep”. And back on topic, the common meaning in Australasia is not mentioned in the online American Merriam-Webster dictionary!