SYNONYMS FOR WORDS COMMONLY USED IN STUDENT'S WRITINGS\

Amazing- incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing,

astounding, extraordinary

Anger- enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden

Angry- mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed

Answer- reply, respond, retort, acknowledge

Ask- question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect,
inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz

Awful- dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant

Bad- evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted,
harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper,
inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible,
atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable,
dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul,
rank, ghastly, execrable

Beautiful - pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely,
fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning,
glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling

Begin - start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate

Big - enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great,
tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous,
titanic, mountainous

Brave - courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold,
gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome

Break - fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize

Bright - shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous,
luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual

Calm - quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-
headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Come - approach, advance, near, arrive, reach

Cool - chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid

Crooked - bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag

Cry - shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl
Cut - gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce

Dangerous - perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe

Dark - shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad

Decide - determine, settle, choose, resolve

Definite - certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious

Delicious - savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable,

toothsome, exquisite

Describe - portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record

Destroy - ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish

Difference - disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility

Do - execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain

Dull - boring, tiring,, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead,
insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary

Eager - keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to

End - stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance

Enjoy - appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like

Explain - elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for

Fair - just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest

Fall - drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False - fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive,

groundless, fallacious

Famous - well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted,

notorious

Fast - quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily,
speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat - stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky,
burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear - fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Fly - soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise

Funny - humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly

Get - acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch,
net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage

Go - recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good - excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper,
capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable,
satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable,
advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable,
beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable,
edifying

Great - noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much,

mighty

Gross - improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful,
uncouth, obscene, low

Happy - pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay,
tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate - despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Have - hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb,
fill, enjoy

Help - aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit,
befriend, abet

Hide - conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil

Hurry - rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle

Hurt - damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain

Idea - thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief

Important - necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary,

principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting - fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive,
inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving,
titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing,
consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting,
bewitching, appealing

Keep - hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Kill - slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Lazy - indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish

Little - tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-
bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Look - gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare,
contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness,
perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love - like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Make - create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce,
build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get

Mark - label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice,
designate

Mischievous - prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive

Move - plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey,
jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride,
tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle,
scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander,
roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble,
stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger,
promenade, lunge

Moody - temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable,

testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat - clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable,
spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

New - fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent

Old - feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down,
former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passe, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic,
conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct

Part - portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment

Place - space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site,
station, status, state

Plan - plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device,
contrivance, method, way, blueprint

Popular - well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current

Predicament - quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put - place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet - silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Right - correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable,
apt, legal, fair

Run - race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee

Say/Tell - inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare,
command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak,
affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey,
impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss,
grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize,
stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared - afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy,
skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked,
petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show - display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate,
expose

Slow - unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

Stop - cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit

Story - tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record,
memoir

Strange - odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique,
exclusive, irregular

Take - hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal,
lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell - disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge,
declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think - judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble - distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief,
misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort

True - accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal,
dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly - hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross,
grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy - miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted,

sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Use - employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise

Wrong - incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

VARIATIONS ON 'SAID'

announced joked
answered mentioned
argued murmured
began muttered
begged ordered
bellowed pleaded
bragged pledged
choked pouted
called promised
claimed questioned
commanded rambled
complained remarked
cried reported
declared shouted
demanded sighed
exclaimed snapped
explained spoke
gasped sobbed
giggled stated
groaned stormed
growled stuttered
grumbled swore
grunted tattled
hissed told
hooted uttered
informed voiced
inquired warned
insisted wept
interrupted whispered
jabbered yelled

TRANSITION WORDS

To improve your writing you need to make sure that your ideas, both in sentences and
paragraphs, stick together or have coherence and that the gap between ideas is bridged
smoothly. One way to do this is by using transitions - words or phrases or techniques that help
bring two ideas together. Transitional words and phrases represent one way of gaining
coherence. Certain words help continue an idea, indicate a shift of though or contrast, or sum up
a conclusion. Check the following list of words to find those that will pull your sentences and
paragraphs together.

For continuing a common line of reasoning:

consequently because
clearly, then besides that
furthermore in the same way
additionally following this further
and also
in addition pursuing this further
moreover in the light of the... it is easy to see that

To change the line of reasoning (contrast):

however yet
on the other hand nevertheless
but on the contrary

 
For opening a paragraph initially or for general use:

admittedly obviously generally speaking

assuredly of course in general
certainly to be sure at this level
granted true in this situation
no doubt undoubtedly
nobody denies unquestionably

For the final points of a paragraph or essay:

finally
lastly

 Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged

chronologically:

first... second... third...

generally... furthermore... finally
in the first place... also... lastly
in the first place... pursuing this further... finally
to be sure... additionally... lastly
in the first place... just in the same way... finally
basically... similarly... as well

To signal conclusion:

therefore in conclusion
this in final consideration
hence indeed
in final analysis

To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way:

in other words
point in fact
specifically

Sequence or time

after before long meanwhile

afterwards finally next
as soon as first... second... third soon
at first in the first place then
at last in the meantime
before later