The words that writers choose are always important because they involve syntax, style, and comprehension, and the latter is the most important. The others will follow if the author keeps that in mind. This means that writers should stick to words they know.

If writers has to use a dictionary or a thesaurus, that means that they do not know the word. They have not experienced its denotations and particularly its connotations. For a true understanding of a word it must be a part of the active as well as the passive vocabulary. One knows many more words than are used in speech, and these passive words are as important as the active ones. These are the words to use.

This does not mean that you should never use the dictionary or the thesaurus, but it does mean that they should be used to check, to clarify, and to refine the composition. If any doubt exists of the words appropriateness, it should not be used. The insight will not be there.

A study of the great writers will make it apparent that they knew and understood the words they used. They considered carefully the words, and they studied words until they became a part of their vocabulary, both passive and active. Of course, this means that the writer is always studying words, always interested in words, always using new words, maybe even creating some.

Nevertheless, the old adage