Trimble on Diction

Of all the topics discussed in John Trimble's chapter on Diction, I can associate most with the topic of "freshness". Keeping a piece refreshing and relevant is a critical aspect of any part of writing. An extensive vocabulary can dramatically assist an author's style and tone, and is often more important than the actual content of an article or essay. In my case especially, I have discovered that my style is best when brisk, and I succeed when I hit points creatively and with original phrasing. Keeping a piece "fresh" is without a doubt a crucial segment of any good writer's arsenal.

Active voice is generally stronger than passive voice because it introduces the subject first and the reader keeps paying attention to the story. I will use passive tense if I believe it lends a different aspect to the style of thought, but usually I try to keep a quick pace and maintain a reader's attention.