Words are the foundation of writing. Here's some guidelines on choosing words that work:

Nouns

* General nouns give readers a vague, uninteresting picture, use specific nouns whenever possible to give readers a clearer, more detailed picture.
examples: (from vague to specific)
woman ~ scientist ~Marie Curie
landmark ~ national landmark ~ Mount Rushmore
drink ~ coffee ~ cappuccino
belief ~ strong belief ~ conviction

Vivid Verbs

* Use verbs that are strong enough to stand alone without an adverb and that show rather than tell, descriptive verbs that give a more specific image.

* Avoid overusing the "be" verbs (is, are, was, were . . .). look for another, often better verb, from another word in the same sentence.

* Avoid passive sentence structure, try to use subject - action- object when possible.

Adjectives

* Use precise, specific adjectives to provide a more interesting and clearer picture to the reader.

* Avoid adjectives that are overused and/or carry little meaning; if you can see what you are trying to describe, then use the specific words to describe it

examples:
what is meant by big, little, pretty, cute, fun, nice, good, bad, funny

If you can't picture the word itself in a specific way, don't use it.

* Use adjectives selectively, don't overload a sentence with adjectives.

Adverbs

* Use adverbs as sparingly as possible and only when they will add specific details and color to a sentence.

* Make sure the verb+adverb phrase cannot be better served by a more vivid verb; if they can then replace them with the more vivd verb.

Choosing the Right Words

* Word choices should not only be specific and colorful, but also have the right connotation (what it suggests beyond its dictionary definition)/feeling.

* Describe concretely using the five senses whenever possible: site, sound, smell, feel, and taste.

Style

* Avoid using a lot of short sentences in one place: combine them if possible for a smoother flow.

* Avoid passive writing: make the subject GIVE, DO, ACT and not receive the action.

* Use as few qualifiers as possible.