specific words

(noun)

Precise words from a narrower scope.

Related Terms

  • General
  • General words
  • General words cover a broader spectrum with a single word than specific words
  • general words
  • connotation
  • register
  • abstract

Examples of specific words in the following topics:

  • Precision

    • General words and specific words are not opposites.
    • General words cover a broader spectrum with a single word than specific words.
    • Specific words are a subset of general words.
    • You can increase the clarity of your writing by choosing specific words over general words.
    • Here's an example of general and specific words in a sentence:
  • Quotation Marks

    • Quotation marks are most often used to mark direct speech or words from another author or speaker. 
    • Quotation marks can also be used to highlight specific words, express the title of a short literary work, or to emphasize irony.
    • Quotation marks represent another person's exact words.
    • Either quotation marks or italics can indicate when a word refers to the word itself rather than its associated concept (i.e., when the word is "mentioned" rather than "used").
    • (Here, the period comes after the quotation mark because quotation marks are used to highlight specifically what should be typed.)
  • Capital Letters

    • Always capitalize the very first word of a sentence, no matter what it is.
    • The names of cities, states, countries, continents, and other specific geographic locations are capitalized.
    • In titled works (such as books, articles, or artwork) the majority of the words are capitalized.
    • These words are only capitalized if they come at the beginning of the title.
    • This can vary based on style, so be sure to check your manual for specifics.
  • The Importance of Wording

    • What is the difference between density and specific gravity, and how does this relate to the weight and hardness of wood?
    • I didn't think density and specific gravity were important until I got how they related to wood's weight and hardness?
    • Knowing the difference between the denotation, or literal meaning of words, and connotation, or the wide range of thoughts and impressions made by words or phrases, will improve academic writing.
    • Avoid overly informal diction as well, as these words are often less specific or simply not appropriate for academic writing.
    • Think of the difference in the words "domicile" vs.
  • Incorporating Your Sources Into Your Paper

    • Direct quotations are words and phrases that are taken directly from another source, and then used word-for-word in your paper.
    • When paraphrasing, you may put any part of a source (such as a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or chapter) into your own words.
    • You may find that the original source uses language that is more clear, concise, or specific than your own language, in which case you should use a direct quotation, putting quotation marks around those unique words or phrases you don't change.
    • It is common to use a mixture of paraphrased text and quoted words or phrases, as long as the direct quotations are inside of quotation marks.
    • While the use of quotation marks or parenthetical citations tells your reader that these are not your own words or ideas, you should follow the quote with a description, in your own terms, of what the quote says and why it is relevant to the purpose of your paper.
  • Step 6: Editing and Proofreading

    • If spell-check suggests bizarre corrections for one of your words, it could be that you know a word it does not.
    • Defined terms: When using terms specific to your topic, make sure you define them for your readers who may not be familiar with them.
    • "Trembled" is a more specific form of "shook," which is itself an improvement over "was shaking."
    • People are more capable of understanding words in context than word processors.
    • For example, spell-check software can't always tell whether "their," "there" or "they're" fits in a specific sentence, but a person always can.
  • Using Pointing Words

    • The phrase "those intricacies of form" lets the reader know that the writer is referring to the same specific instances of metrical variation that were discussed earlier in the poem.
    • Pointing words are words, such as "this," "these," or "those," which are used to help orient your reader and establish continuity within your writing.
    • The phrase "those intricacies of form" lets the reader know that the writer is referring to the same specific instances of metrical variation that were discussed earlier in the poem.
    • In the title, the word "these" acts as a pointing word that points back to the noun, "wild animals," contained in the first sentence.
    • Pointing words are used to produce continuity in your writing.
  • Abbreviations and Acronyms

    • An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or phrase.
    • An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or phrase.
    • If told to use a specific style manual, such as MLA or Turabian, be sure to check what it says about specific usage rules.
    • Acronyms are abbreviations that form another word.
    • Laser is so frequently used as a word that few people know it is an acronym.
  • Introduction to Inflection

    • In the context of grammar, inflection is altering a word to change its form, usually by adding letters.
    • In English grammar, "inflection" is the broad umbrella term for changing a word to suit its grammatical context.
    • You’ve probably never heard this word before, but you actually do it all the time without even thinking about it.
    • A word you might have heard before, especially if you’ve taken a foreign language like Spanish, is “conjugation.”
    • Conjugation is the specific type of inflection that has to do with verbs.
  • Choosing Search Terms for Sources

    • Before you start conducting your research, you should have created a research plan with a specific research question.
    • The first option is to use key terms, or words that will appear frequently in the article.
    • To search key terms, think about important words that will occur in sources you could use.
    • Most search engines will generate results based on how frequently those words appear in articles and their abstracts.
    • Phrase your search terms as specifically as possible, so that you only find relevant sources.
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