Many memoir writers are under the impression that you need to have an extensive vocabulary to write. An extensive vocabulary can only help you–if by “extensive” you mean many precise words—not just “big” ones. More important is using precise language.

Precise words are specific

Precise words are specific and not vague and ineffective like nice, awful, big, OK. “She was nice” is vague. “She understands different points of view” is specific.

“He was awfully big” is vague. You might write instead: “My father measured six foot five and weighed 275 pounds.” Now that is using precise words!

If you write, “The job was OK,” you are really not saying much for the reader to grab a hold of. When you write, “The job was in my field of competence, but its salary was inadequate and its requirements did not challenge me,” you are helping the reader to understand something about the character.

In each of these examples of using precise language, I have added meaning where I replaced vague words with precise words—and ultimately precise concepts, but I did not use big words.

“She was nice” does not qualify how she was nice nor what I understand nice to mean as opposed to what the reader might understand nice to mean.

When I wrote, “She understands different points of view,” I am giving a facet of the character’s personality that lets the reader in on a quality that many would call congenial and pleasant.

When writers make use of vague or flabby words and phrases, they have not taken the time to explore the depth and breadth of what they are writing about. Like cliches and stereotypes, flabby words and phrases are lazy forms of writing. They communicate very little–when you need so very much to communicate in your memoir all you have lived!

Remember: replace all flabby words or phrases with others that convey precise and full meaning. You will not be there to notice the confusion appear on your reader’s face as she struggles to understand your text. You will not be there to say, “What I really mean is…”

Action Steps

Go over your text to look at individual words. Does each of your words carry full weight or do you have flabby words like nice and awful? If you do, replace them with specific (not necessarily big) words and phrases that contribute precisely to your meaning.

By using precise words, you make each word work for you!

Good luck writing!