Prose & StyleFoundational
Diction
The choice of words, considered as a system.
Principle
Every word is a decision, and the decisions accumulate.
Takeaways
- Latinate diction abstracts; Anglo-Saxon diction grounds.
- Diction reveals class, era, education, and intent.
- Imprecise diction blurs scenes regardless of plotting.
Overview
Diction is the systematic choice of vocabulary in a text. It carries register, voice, and characterisation, and it operates at every sentence. Strong diction is invisible; weak diction is the first thing the reader notices.
Examples
- A character whose vocabulary narrows under stress.
- A narrator whose Latinate verbs betray their education.
- A child whose dictation accidentally enters the prose.