Other People Are Reading

o If a reader encounters an unfamiliar word, reading a synonym for the word, rather than a definition, may help her understand better. However, not all synonyms are exactly interchangeable; some synonyms have slightly different connotations. The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus lists "grieving" as a synonym for "bitter," and although they both share the theme of "sadness," they aren't identical and cannot always be substituted for each other. Learning differences between two synonyms such as "grieving" and "bitter" clarifies the meaning of both words.

Introducing Variety Into Writing

o Synonyms help writers develop style. When referring to the same subject several times, students can avoid repetition and create interest in their writing by using synonyms. Instead of saying "beliefs" every time, a writer can substitute the word with "values," "credo," "philosophy" or "faith" at different times.

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Using Shared Roots to Determine Meaning

o Some synonyms share the same root word, such as "continuous" and "continual," which derive from the same Latin root, "continuus," meaning "uninterrupted." Clustering synonyms with like roots can illuminate the meaning of several words at once for a reader. Similarly, some synonyms share prefixes or suffixes, such as "disparage," "dismiss" and "disrespect." The prefix "dis" means "away," while the root "parage" in "disparage" means "rank," and "miss" in "dismiss" originates from "mission." Both words mean to "send away" something -- in the first case, another person's respect; and in the second, an idea or plan.

Using a Thesaurus Effectively

o A thesaurus can enhance a writer's ability to express himself. Although many students know how to use a dictionary, some have a fuzzy notion of the function of a thesaurus. Educators can also teach students how to properly (and sparingly) use a thesaurus be a goal of their synonym lessons. Students will need to know to how to find the base form of a word to use a thesaurus. For example, the word "intelligibility" isn't in most thesauruses; readers will have to look up the base word, "intelligible."