There seems to be a lot of debate recently about whether or not writers should be using a thesaurus to support their projects. On the one hand, a thesaurus is a tool that can help you find the right word for certain meanings you’re trying to convey. But on the other hand, if you’re using a thesaurus compulsively instead of trying to discover the right word on your own, perhaps that can be a problem in the long run. In this blog, I’ll discuss my thoughts on the issue and how I recommend writers use this resource.
What are some good reasons to use a thesaurus?
The word you’re using doesn’t fit rhythmically but you can’t think of another
An underrated but very important aspect of crafting a strong sentence is how it flows rhythmically. This is especially true for writers with a more lyrical or poetic style. Sometimes, when you read a sentence over, it just doesn’t sound right. You know that one of the words is messing with the flow. In this scenario, I think it makes sense to go to an online thesaurus to help you look for that perfect word.
1. You’re finding a lot of repetition
If you’ve reached the editing stage and you’re noticing that certain words are repeating too often, this is a good indication that it’s time to pull out the thesaurus. As writers, sometimes we develop a habit of using a particular word for a particular meaning. But a diverse vocabulary makes for a more entertaining and engaging reading experience. Moreover, when readers also notice certain words appearing frequently, this can get distracting and ultimately disengage them from the story. And the reading experience should be like a dream that one should not awake from until the end.
2. Voice distinction
Finding the right voice for your narrator or characters can sometimes be difficult. I often notice when I go to edit that the dialogue or inner voice of certain characters sound too alike. There’s a lack of distinguishing or memorable factors. This can make it difficult for readers to remember who is who, who said what, or what that person did in the previous chapter, for instance. Your characters need to be distinct. You might find that as a new writer, your characters’ voices are yours. You write what’s in your mind. This is okay, but remember—at some point you will need to embody your characters, to discover them—instead of the other way around.
3. You’ve exhausted other methods
You shouldn’t be so quick to reach for a thesaurus, especially when you’re practicing or if you’re new. It’s better to develop the habit of thinking on the spot, putting the words down on the page as you write naturally. This can take time, which is understandable. And even seasoned writers use a thesaurus, even if it is just once in a while. But the important thing is that the thesaurus shouldn’t be your first instinct when you can’t think of the right word. There are better ways to learn new words—reading fiction is the best.
Are there bad reasons to use a thesaurus?
1. You want to sound intelligent
The exception might be if you have a character who is pompous or prone to using high-flown language to sound intelligent. Perhaps they’re an academic. But if you as the writer are trying to sound more intelligent as a narrator, then you’re likely abusing the thesaurus if that’s what you’re using it for. It can be fun to experiment with new words, and it’s understandable that you might feel inadequate or doubtful about your abilities—but the solution to that isn’t your insecurity. Trust me, I’ve been there before. Develop a voice that is authentic. Just because you don’t know every word in the dictionary doesn’t make you a bad writer. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re plugging in words that you can’t define when you go back to read them the next day, you’re using the thesaurus wrong.
2. You’re pausing while you write to find the right word
Changing the sentence structure and fixing your syntax should come in the editing phase. It’s far more important to get the words down on the page than to scrutinize every single one of them. If you’re constantly trying to scavenge for a different word to use, you probably need to focus more on simply writing. Discard your inner editor that might rear its head while you write. Furthermore, when you go back to actually edit, you might discover that you like the word you or sequence that you had all along. Your instincts are usually more correct than we often think. Trust them more.
3. Ego
Everyone has an ego. Our job as writers is to keep it in check when it needs to be checked. Sometimes we’re aiming for something that just isn’t reasonable or attainable. This counts for the words we put down on the page. We don’t always have the more accurate, most beautiful sounding word for a particular sentence—but is that such a bad thing? We aren’t robots. People can tell when we’re bullshitting. Not being perfect is a more realistic vision of perfection anyways. People will be attracted to your voice when they read your writing—you want them to think “ah yes, I love so and so’s writing,” which essentially means that they love your imperfection, imprecision, and even errors (used appropriately, and no grammatical ones) at times.
Conclusion
Go ahead and use a thesaurus if you want to, but beware—there are bad reasons to use one. As a rule, try to write without concerning yourself with how right a particular word is. Chances are it’s the right one anyway. Prioritize developing your inner voice and reading more fiction. If when it comes time to edit and you’re having trouble with some of the concepts mentioned above, then in my view, it’s perfectly fine to use a tool like a thesaurus.
As an exercise, try to write as many synonyms as you can think (don’t use the thesaurus!) of for the following words, just for fun:
Contrary
Illustrate
Pleasant
Exception
Beneficiary
Appeal
Remedy
Fascinate
Trivial
Vigorous
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