There are some words that just have it and some that don’t. When used in certain sentences, the words that have it can make all the difference. It could be a mediocre piece of writing, but with the use of a few powerful words it becomes engaging and action-packed reading.
Powerful words are essentially action verbs (see also, Parts of Speech). They are used to engage audiences. They are tools that give your communication energy and spark. Audiences take note and the message that you are seeking to convey is more likely to be heard:
- Try to replace verb phrases with single verbs (Empire State College, 2009). Examples include replacing ‘give instructions to’ with ‘instruct’ and ‘in the majority of cases’ with 'usually'.
- Powerful words are specific rather than vague (Empire State College, 2009). For example, replace ‘I was glad’ with ‘I jumped with excitement’.
- Swap more general verbs with descriptive words to make the text more powerful. This might mean replacing ‘walked’ with ‘swagger' (see The Century Vocabulary Builder for more examples).
There are also tools that help you use powerful words when writing. For example, try the free plain language converter on this website to convert verb phrases to single verbs. And try products like the popular Ultimate Vocabulary software and the excellent StyleWriter.
Powerful words not only make your writing stand out, but they also make you stand out. You can use power words during a board meeting or in a work report. This will make sure what you say, or what you write, packs that much-needed punch and gets you noticed. It will make you stand out from the crowd. Nothing screams competency and aptitude more then a rich vocabulary and articulate and powerful speech.
Power words can be used and are extremely helpful in a variety of business environments. Whether it is when writing a resume or partaking in an important job interview, having knowledge of powerful words is a must.
Power words are also impressive when used in a social setting. You will become the life of a party with your action-packed and colorful stories. Turn boring routine happenings into vibrant goings-on just by changing your words. You don’t have to be that wilting flower in the corner anymore with power words. Once developed, they are sure to impress.
Developing power words is just a matter of time and patience. The more you have to do with them, the easier they will come. The next time you write or are asked to speak at a function, think about what you are going to say and substitute passive with action. Stand out and be noticed for all the right reasons with powerful words.
References
Empire State College 2009, Writing Style, viewed 9 July, 2009.