Varying Terminology

This handout is regarding replacing the term social media in academic writing. If you are completing an argument essay on genetic engineering, visit HERE for terminology replacements.

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Vary the Terminology

Help your writing by varying the terminology used in your essays, not by overusing a thesaurus to make you feel smarter.  1.      Using synonyms to vary a repeating ‘term’ in academic writing = GOOD 2.     Using synonyms to modify general words in your writing that are not common or natural for you = BAD Image Location No-No Modifying General Words You will not want to go crazy with synonym usage—as a rule in any writing—because you sound pompous, and often, the synonyms will not make sense in the way that the original word would have for the audience. An audience will know when you are trying to use words that you are not familiar with or synonyms that you ‘think’ will make you sound smarter.  However, the reality is that if you are not properly using words (by using a thesaurus to replace words) in your argument writing, you are going to lose the readers and their respect. Using synonyms in place of a reoccurring term in your paper is not the same as modifying general words throughout the writing, though.  You want to try to look up varying terminology for a reoccurring term on your given issue when writing an academic essay. For example, in an argument essay dealing with social media issues, you will want to vary your terminology word choice with alternative, appropriate synonyms so that your ideas do not seem repetitive.    Image Location DO THIS Modifying Terminology You will want to see the various terms that ‘power thesaurus’ advocates as appropriate synonyms for social media (below). If you are completing an argument essay on genetic engineering, visit HERE for terminology replacements. While some of these terms are expression synonyms, and not everyone would use that given expression synonym in everyday speech, it is acceptable to vary the term social media in your writing, especially when you have a paragraph that is using it 15 times.  The repetition of that term will become annoying and bothersome to the audience. Terminology to consider using in Academic Writing that would require the term Social Media in a sentence.  Not all of these terms will work in every sentence that uses the term social media.  Depending on the context of the sentence and how social media is being addressed will determine which term replacement would work best in that given sentence. Within each term synonym you will find a link to take you to additional synonyms to replace that term as well. ·        social network ·        public network ·        media ·        social communication ·        social site ·        media platform ·        website ·        network ·        social web ·        social network service ·        social networking website ·        multimedia ·        mass media ·        mobile communication ·        social networking ·        social media platform ·        interactive multimedia ·        interactive media ·        intermedia ·        hypermedia ·        mass communication ·        social-networking ·        social networking service ·        social networking site ·        social safety net ·        social utility ·        social networks ·        social environment ·        networking sites ·        social communications ·        means of social communication ·        social milieu ·        mass information ·        mass communication media ·        social contact ·        social connection ·        social networking sites ·        social-media ·        social background ·        social setting ·        social surroundings ·        social sphere ·        online world ·        networking websites ·        multimedia system ·        socially ·        social context ·        social atmosphere ·        social climate ·        social media site

For Educational Purposes Only

J. Dick

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