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Context Matters

Finding the right word is often dependent on context. A weak verb will work almost anywhere, but a strong
verb fits best within a particular context For example, let’s look at two sentences using the common
(overused) verb “went”:

• The race car went around the track three times.
• The airplane went slowly across the tarmac.

While the word “went” works just as well (or poorly) in each of these sentences, stronger, more precise verbs
will bring them to life and paint completely different pictures.

• The race car sputtered around the track three times.
• The race car zipped around the track three times.
• The race car rolled around the track three times.

“Sputtered”, “zipped”, and “rolled” are all fine synonyms for “went” in this sentence, and each one delivers a
different image of our car. None of these verbs, however, can replace “went” in our second sentence, but a
more precise verb choice, such as “inched” or “rolled”, will give us a better picture of how that plane moved
on the tarmac.

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