Diction – What is it and how do I write about it?
Diction is a writer's choice of words, phrases, sentence structures, and figurative language, which combine
to help create meaning.
• Formal diction consists of a dignified, impersonal, and elevated use of language; it follows the
rules of syntax exactly and is often characterized by complex words and lofty tone.
• Middle diction maintains correct language usage, but is less elevated than formal diction; it
reflects the way most educated people speak.
• Informal diction represents the plain language of everyday use, and often includes idiomatic
expressions, slang, contractions, and many simple, common words.
• Poetic diction refers to the way poets sometimes employ an elevated diction that deviates
significantly from the common speech and writing of their time, choosing words for their
supposedly inherent poetic qualities. Since the eighteenth century, however, poets have been
incorporating all kinds of diction in their work and so there is no longer an automatic distinction
between the language of a poet and the language of everyday speech.
Analyzing & Discussing Diction
The following are words that lend themselves to discussing diction, syntax, voice, and overall style analysis.
This is not a complete list – add to this list as you find new descriptors. Do not confuse these descriptors
with your tone word list – they are not necessarily interchangeable although some will work for both.
NOTE: Never substitute terminology for analysis. Always connect the rhetorical strategy and/or literary
term (and example) directly to the effect it creates in the passage. Include clear commentary after all
supporting quotations and tie to the total meaning/purpose.
Formal Jumbled Lyrical – expressive, romantic
Elevated/High Chaotic Euphonic – agreeable to the ear
Informal Obfuscating – purposely unclear, confusing Whimsical
Low Erudite – scholarly Jovial – cheerful
Loaded – strong emotional overtones Esoteric – cryptic, mysterious Staccato – disjointed, disconnected
Plain Sprawling – extensive, rambling Abrupt
Dry Dramatic Solid
Precise Didactic – educational, instructive, moralizing Thudding – not clear or resonant
Matter-of-fact Pedantic – dull Solemn
Forthright – candid, straightforward Transcendental – abstract, idealistic, lofty Reverent – deeply respectful
Sparse Journalistic Irreverent – lacking respect
Austere – severe or serious Terse – abrupt, curt, short Intimate
Unadorned Laconic – concise, brief (Deceptively) Simple
Ornate Harsh Complex
Pompous Grating Abstract
Haughty Cacophonous – harsh-sounding, unpleasant Concrete
Flowery Musical Generalized
Elaborate Rhythmic Specific
Elegant Mellifluous – smooth, honeyed Repetitive
Disorganized Lilting – cheerful, pleasant
LEAD
The acronym, LEAD , will help you to remember a method for analyzing how an author’s word choices convey
effect and meaning in a literary work.
Low or informal diction (dialect, slang, jargon)
Elevated language or formal diction
Abstract and concrete diction
Denotation and connotation
The LEAD method is demonstrated below using a passage from a passage from The Secret Sharer by Joseph
Conrad:
The side of the ship made an opaque belt of shadow on the darkling glassy shimmer of the sea. But I
saw at once something elongated and pale floating very close to the ladder. Before I could form a guess
a faint flash of phosphorescent light, which seemed to issue suddenly from the naked body of a man,
flickered in the sleeping water with the elusive, silent play of summer lightning in a night sky. With a
gasp I saw revealed to my stare a pair of feet, the long legs, a broad livid back immersed right up to the
neck in a greenish cadaverous glow. One hand, awash, clutched the bottom rung of the ladder. He was
complete but for the head. A headless corpse! The cigar dropped out of my gaping mouth with a tiny
plop and a short hiss quite audible in the absolute stillness of all things under heaven. At that I suppose
he raised up his face, a dimly pale oval in the shadow of the ship’s side…I only climbed on the spare
spar and leaned over the rail as far as I could, to bring my eyes nearer to that mystery floating
alongside. As he hung by the ladder, like a resting swimmer, the sea lightning played about his limbs at
every stir; and he appeared in it ghastly, silvery, fishlike.
Low or Informal Diction
A first step could be to check for low or informal diction such as slang, dialect, and jargon. These expressions
are often used in dialogue or directly by the speaker in stories told from the first person point of view. One
strategy for deriving meaning from informal diction is to pay close attention to dialogue and to read the text
aloud to hear how it sounds, attempting to determine meaning from sound and context. Another strategy is to
refer to a thesaurus or dictionary that contains word histories and definitions of informal expressions.
1. Example of jargon from above passage:
2. Purpose of jargon:
Elevated Language or Formal Diction
A next step might be to check for elevated language, indicating the use of formal diction. Because formal
diction includes more elaborate, polysyllabic (poly=many, syllables=small parts of a word) words, it may be
more difficult to understand. Pay close attention to complex words and use a dictionary to help define words
that are not understandable from the context. Paraphrase a difficult passage by rewriting it in your own words
to determine the author’s meaning. A paraphrase of the passage from Conrad’s novella might look something
like this:
The side of the ship cast a dark shadow on the calm, dark surface of the sea. But I suddenly saw
something long and whitish floating near the ladder. A light seemed to appear suddenly from the
unclothed body of a man in the dark water, lighted up every now and then by flashes of lightning. I was
shocked to see what looked like a pale, headless corpse, floating in the dim light of the green-colored
water surrounding it. As my mouth dropped open, my cigar fell out, breaking the silence by falling into
the water and making a noise. He lifted his face out of the water…As he rested on the ladder, the
lightning made him look like a cross between a ghost and a shiny fish.
Abstract and Concrete Diction
A next step in this process might be to examine the use of abstract and concrete diction. Writers may choose to
use abstract or concrete words depending on the response they want to evoke from the reader. Although the
more abstract words tend to be used impersonally to convey universal truths and emotions, writers in general
tend to use specific, concrete words to describe people, places, and objects. Good writers also use active verbs
to describe action. Liberal use of abstract diction in a passage might make it more difficult to understand.
Students can look carefully at a descriptive passage to find examples of effective descriptions of people, places,
objects and actions.
Referring again to the passage from The Secret Sharer: Conrad’s diction is specific when he uses such concrete
words as: (list at least six examples of words that communicate perceivable actions and states.)
3. Examples:
Conrad also uses abstract diction in this novel by leaving the captain, the ship, and the crew nameless. Consider
why the author chose to use this technique.
4. One possibility is:
Denotation and Connotation
Examine both denotative (literal meanings) and connotative (associate, suggested meanings) in a literary work
Author’s use very specific word choices (diction) to create tone and theme.
5. Explain what the possible denotations are for the title: “secret sharer”
6. Find one example of a word with more than one denotation (other than title):
7. What do the following words connote/imply or suggest:
headless:
fishlike:
pale
shadow:
8. Describe the overall tone of the passage citing specific word choices to support your claim:
