Litotes is a vague statement that uses a negative to express a positive (for example, “he’s not wrong,” meaning he’s right). Meiosis is a strategic understatement that diminishes or downplays a subject (“ambulance chaser” instead of “personal injury attorney”)....
Example of colloquial diction: Sounds like you’ve loaded the wrong wagon. 7 Abstract diction Abstract diction refers to discussing something intangible, like an idea or emotion. It’s hard to put abstract thoughts into words, so abstract diction often comes across as vague or ambiguous. Ex...
Include specific action words that clearly define the result you have in mind. Words such as "increase," "develop," or "provide" might be helpful to include in a SMART goal. Be sure not to keep your goals too general or too vague, as specificity will help keep you and your students f...
Instead of writing that someone "ate like a pig," consider specific details. What would it sound like for someone to overeat? What would it look like? What might someone feel like after overeating? After developing a concept, turn to the thesaurus for better descriptors. Words like "slurp...
Numbered Lists: Perfect for showing steps or a series of events in order. Bold/Italics: Use bold or italics to highlight important words or phrases. Headings: Use headings (H1, H2, H3) to break your content into sections and guide the reader. ...
This can lead to mission statements that are vague, uninspiring, or fail to resonate with their audience. To help you develop a compelling mission statement for your company, we’ve compiled a list of do’s and don’ts. These best practices are designed to steer you away from common ...
While it might be tempting to describe your offerings as “awesome” or “showstopping,” these terms can feel vague and may deter clicks. Instead, use relevant, active language that conveys excitement naturally and highlights the page’s value. Consider this example from Bonobos: This ...
to others. However, other words can carry clearer meaning. A “professor” is also a teacher, but we generally think of a “professor” as someone who teaches within a college or university. The word “professor” is more descriptive and distinct than “teacher,” which is a vague word. ...
As seen in the last example, an appeal to anonymous authority can be attributed to a group as vague as “they.” Legitimate appeals to authority As we mentioned earlier, there are some instances where supporting a claim with an expert’s insight is logically sound. For an appeal to authorit...
"Vague words are very common on surveys. A word is vague when it is not obvious to a respondent what referents (e.g., instances, cases, examples) fall under the umbrella of the word's intended meaning...For example, consider the question, 'How many members of your household work?' T...