Is it normal to use a dictionary AND a thesaurus while writing?

Question

Whenever I write, I use a thesaurus and a dictionary. No I'm not addicted to a thesaurus and I only use words I already know the meaning of. Sometimes these words don't strike at the right moment. Also, I think a dictionary is very much necessary while using a thesaurus. Opinions?

Answer 1

Of course! Using a thesaurus is always good, it helps you find more poetic words instead of the standard "happy," "sad," "smiled," etc..



Then, looking up the words in the dictionary to see the definition can inspire you, because for me the words in the definition trigger new ideas:)



Hope that helped:) Good luck with your writing!

Answer 2

Yes



A thesaurus requires a dictionary, when used properly. Something I wish that every Word user would learn. A thesaurus is great for suggesting words, but if you don't get the nuances of the word suggested, you just end up seeming stupid. At this point everyone has to have seen at least one teenage essay which just uses the longest word the thesaurus offered, as a way of padding the essay.

Answer 3

A Thesaurus is a must, and a Dictionary often throws up surprises (well the better ones do)



I take it you mean a proper Roget's Thesaurus not a book of synonyms and antonyms, which are okay, but Roget is so much better when looking for something different, and superior.



PS. beware of putting ~opinions~ in your wording for YA, because some people will report you for chat.

Answer 4

In middle school I used to keep a Webster's dictionary in my pocket and an Oxford dictionary/thesaurus in my tote bag. I'm in high school now and I'm currently working on 5 novels with the help of that same Oxford dictionary/thesaurus.



There's nothing wrong with you.

Answer 5

It's perfectly normal. In fact, I recommend it. I use a thesaurus to look up synonyms for a word and then look up those synonyms in the dictionary to make sure they have the right connotation.

Answer 6

Of course! Dictionaries and thesauruses are valuable tools. It's annoyingly tedious sometimes, but they really are essential if you want to make the story flow--thesauruses especially are a godsend to me. Trust me, it's much better to use both than simply a stick a word in your writing even when you don't know what it means, or repeatedly use the same word over and over again since you don't know any synonyms for it.

Answer 7

Of course its normal, infact my english teacher says its odd not to use both

Answer 8

It's fine to use both. In fact, it's probably best to use them because you get wider and more interesting vocabulary in your writing :)

Answer 9

It's as okay as airbrushing the photo shoot images.



People want perfection, and nobody's perfect.



Everyone does that, but no one likes to admit.



People may claim they like the "unaltered" version better, but then, that's merely a flock behavior tendency.

Answer 10

of course, it makes u a better writer

Answer 11

normal and also good! where's the harm?