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Get to the Point

A Thesaurus Is More Than a Word Processing Feature

By Theda C. Snyder

A thesaurus is a compilation of synonyms, words of the same meaning. A thesaurus also lists antonyms, words of opposite meaning. When you want to vary your vocabulary to hold the reader’s interest, the thesaurus is where to turn.

thesaurus

When you’ve written a word in a preliminary draft that is almost, but not quite, what you’re trying to say, the thesaurus offers words covering a range of meanings.

“Sure,” you may say, “I know how to use a thesaurus. When I need a synonym, I highlight the search word in MS Word, right-click, choose ‘synonyms,’ and boom, there’s my word choice list.” That exercise gets you a few choices, but did you realize that with a bit more patience you can often expand the list by then clicking “Thesaurus” in the pop-up box?

But That’s Only Part of the Story

Perhaps you have a labor law case and want to avoid a wearisome use of “employee.” Right-clicking in MS Word yields four synonyms for “employee.” There are more options online:

Or perhaps you prefer using a book. A modern “dictionary style” thesaurus lists search words alphabetically. Besides synonyms, some editions offer definitions and show how to use the word in a sentence. The version I checked offered 12 synonyms for “employee.”

Whether you are working online or with a book, you can expand the word choices by searching one of the suggestions to see further choices. Thesaurus.com lists synonyms alphabetically within color-coded hierarchies (red, dark orange, light orange) based on how close in meaning the subset is to the searched word. The “employee” search reveals nine synonyms in the first, red subset. But you might choose to click on “wage-earner” from the third, light orange subset. This leads to another set of synonyms, only some of which overlap the original query result.

Some books route you on your way by listing an important synonym in italics or bold. Among several editions, a search for “employee” pointed to “worker” for further research. Researching the emphasized synonym consistently produces the largest number of choices.

A Classical Thesaurus Is Nearly Impossible to Find

The original thesaurus grouped words logically (at least in theory) rather than alphabetically. Your best chance to find a classical thesaurus may be at an outlet or used book store. Be careful shopping online — many “original” versions are not; they are alphabetical. With a classical thesaurus, one first turns to the index, which offers choices directing the researcher to numbered sections. Synonyms for “employee” can be found in section 716, with more than 200 words comprising general references, including “performer,” “practitioner,” “worker,” “laborer,” “wage earner,” “breadwinner,” “servant,” and specific job titles, including scores of names for craftsmen, engineers, smiths, wrights and makers.

Because a classical thesaurus groups words with similar concepts, sometimes you can browse in nearby sections for a helpful word or phrase. Section 717 provides synonyms for “workplace.” This is especially useful when you need a similar concept rather than a word that exactly matches a meaning. Or if you’re a logophile (word lover) like me, you can browse for the pure enjoyment.

Get to the Point
Read more of Teddy Snyder’s writing tips!

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Categories: Get to the Point, You At Work
Originally published January 18, 2023
Last updated July 28, 2023
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Teddy Snyder Theda C. Snyder

Theda “Teddy” Snyder mediates civil disputes, workers’ compensation and insurance coverage cases, including COVID-19 related coverage disputes, in person or by video. Teddy has practiced in a variety of settings and frequently speaks and writes about settlements and the business of law. She was a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and is the author of four ABA books, including “Women Rainmakers’ Best Marketing Tips, 4th Edition” as well as “Personal Injury Case Evaluation” available on Amazon.com. Based in Los Angeles, Teddy can be found at SnyderMediations.com and on Twitter @SnyderMediation.

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