What is the Difference Between General and Precise Words?

There are many different ways to write and explain things. The English language is so vast and full of different words that tell the same thing. Therefore, a writer has plenty of options to choose from. The decision of choosing words in your writing is very important. As a writer, it is your duty to decide what you want your readers to know. You should also be well aware of the feelings that you want to formulate through your writings. These things hold much significance because the word choice creates desired results. You should know how much you want your readers to know. As a writer, you have two options. Either you can just give the readers a general overview of the subject or you can give them precise and specific details. These details allow them to investigate further on the subject. For these two purposes, you can either choose general words or precise words.

General Words

General words are those words that incorporate all the words with general and non-specific meanings. General words have a broader scope that is not used specifically. They don't deliver details. Rather, general words are not modified. They only give a broad meaning that can be assumed in several ways.

Specific Words

Specific word is not the opposite of the general word. Rather, it is just an elaboration of the general word. When you want to give the tiniest details to the readers, you use specific words. Specific words are commonly used in English literature where readers are allowed to comprehend every tiny detail of the writing. Specific words are just modified general words that let you know the intensity of the matter. It is important that you find the right balance between general words and specific words in your writings.

Here is an example of the usage of general words and specific words.

General word: He said, "I don't want to go".
Specific word: He murmured "I don't want to go".

What is Concise Written Language?

Sometimes, students of other language users have to note down something very lengthy in a very restricted amount of time which is very difficult. Therefore, the writers and other language users over time have developed a short-hand form of writing that is specifically used only when there is a lot annotate in a very limited time and the writer has to move the pen very fast. This short form of writing can be called as the concise form of written language and is popular with the news reporters and the students of higher grades who are required to note down everything their teacher says during the lecture. Given below are some of the examples and ways to write concisely:

Using Acronyms

Students have their notebooks full of acronyms of various words that have never been heard or seen anywhere before. However, the one who uses such irregular and self-made acronyms are usually very well aware of their full forms and that is why he or she uses them with such confidence. Writing acronyms for repetitive words and phenomenon saves both the time and energy of a student while writing down anything lengthy. Examples of acronyms may include FYI instead of for your information, WRT for with respect to, and others such.

Using Abbreviations

Using short forms and very short abbreviations for longer words is another way of writing concisely to save time and energy. Examples may include very well-known abbreviations like temp for temperature and pro for professional or maybe rarely used forms for informal purposes like b/w for between, c/o for care of, b/c. for because, etc.

Using Symbols

Many writers have designated symbols for the words they are likely to use more than often. These symbols are usually different for different writers but some symbols like the + used instead of and, > or < used for bigger than or smaller to, etc. are universally practiced.

What Is Precise Language?

Using precise written and spoken forms of language is a trick not many have a grip on. Using a precise language means to explain your points in such a way that there is no irrelevant detail, not any extra information, and no repetition at all. Writing precisely may also count as a great tool for professional and informal use on many occasion. However, not all of us know how to write precisely which can prove as a great hurdle as we move forward in our lives. Some of the most important ideas and information to follow and know about while learning precise language skills are as follows:

Master the Art of Summarizing

Writing precisely means to write without any extra and long unnecessary details included in your work and same is the case with summarizing anything. Anyone aiming to master precise language skills must practice summarizing long text and writer materials as much as they can. Over time and with practice, one can simply find themselves as a master in precise language skills.

Short Hand Forms Do Not Count as Precise

Many students add acronyms and other informal shorthand forms in a text when they are asked to write it precisely. Instead of summarizing the ideas and only focusing on the main points, they add everything in the precise text but with a shorthand format of writing. This practice is wrong and may get you an ‘F' grade. Instead of shortening the original content by simply using synonyms or shorthand forms, you must try to take out the crux of the whole text and state it in a summarized form.

The main Idea Is All What a Precise Piece Needs

While using the precise language forms on any occasion, you must know what you want to say before representing your thoughts. Your main idea is the only thing you need to put in front of your audience when you are asked to be precise.

What Is Precision Wording When Writing?

Writing is an art that requires a lot of skills. Out of all the skills, the trick to write in a precise yet informative manner is the most difficult to learn and master. Being able to write a piece that is long but does not also bore the readers is not very difficult but wrapping a lot of information that is clear and easy to understand but within a limited number of precise paragraphs is daunting. One of the best ways to write a precise yet informative text is to use the method of precision wording. Precision wording in any writing refers to the writer's deliberate use of only those vocabulary words that shortly convey the exact idea. Some of the useful tips to follow to master the skill of precision wording are as follows:

Improve Your Vocabulary

You can never master the skills of precision wording unless you have a strong grip on vocabulary. Only when you know a lot of synonyms to describe a single idea, you can choose the most suitable and elaborate one. To improve your vocabulary, you need to read a lot and be able enough to remember every important and unique word that you come across.

Be Clear About Your Idea First

Once you are clear about your idea, you are better able to convey it precisely. In the case of ambiguity about the idea you want to convey, you will use a lot of sentences to convey it properly and the precision will be lost. However, knowing your idea clearly can help you in choosing a precise word to write in the statement.

Do Not Try to Impress the Readers by Complex Vocabulary

Sometimes, an easy and common word can convey the idea more clearly than an embellished one. Always opt for the clearer word rather than going for mechanical wording.