Writing Resource: Vocabulary

Writing Tips

Use STRONG, ACTIVE VERBS
DO NOT BE VAGUE
Your proposal should be TIGHT, LIGHT, & RIGHT
- Use VIVID IMAGES, COMPELLING ANECDOTES (STORIES), or MEMORABLE PHRASES
Use TRANSITION WORDS/PHRASES

Useful Vocabulary

Strong, Active Verbs
- Access
- Assess
- Analyze
- Address
- Attain
- Administer
- Investigate
- Examine
- Extends
- Evaluate
- Educate
- Facilitates
- Sustains and Promotes
- Initiate
- Influence
- Represent
- Undertake
- Conduct
- Consolidate
- Accomplish
- Facilitate
- Empower
- LIST OF MORE ACTIVE VERBS: https://www.cicf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/active-verbs-for-grant-writing.pdf

Useful Adjectives to Describe Yourself (to answer the questions “why should we choose you for this program?”; “Why are you a good candidate for this program?”; “What makes you a good candidate for this program?”; etc…)
- Culturally sensitive/curious
- Intellectually curious
- Collaborative/cooperative
- Adaptable
- Passionate
- Reliable
- Enthusiastic
- Supportive of…
- Grounded
- Imaginative
- Optimistic
- Balanced
- Genuine
- Hardworking
- Determined
- Responsible
- Committed
Useful Adjectives/Nouns/Verbs to Describe Your Passion/Project
- High-impact/Impactful
- Economically Disadvantaged/underserved/underprivileged/indigent
- Anecdotal
- Ethnically diverse
- Unique needs
- Special needs
- Equity (ex: increase gender equity)
- Collaborative Effort
- Community Outreach
- Global Awareness
- Intensive
- Initiative
- Interdisciplinary
- Multiculturally enriching
- Tactile
- Social Outreach
Words to Describe Success
- Academic excellence
- Enhanced and engaged professionalism
- Honoraria
- Demonstrable Improvement/ Dissemination
- Innovations
- Efficacy
- Solution
- Positive community participation
- Improve
Transition Words/Phrases
- Illustration
  - Thus, for example, for instance
- Contrast
  - Contrarily, On the contrary, On the other hand, conversely
- Addition
  - In addition, Furthermore, As well as, not only-but also, consequently, for example, for instance
- Time
  - First, firstly, to begin, after, afterward, last, lastly, formerly
- Emphasis
  - Above all, In fact, furthermore, in addition
- Consequence or Result
  - Thus, consequently, for this reason, therefore, as a result, then
- Examples
  - For example, for instance, to illustrate, in other words
- Summary
  - Therefore, finally, consequently, in conclusion, in brief, as a result
- Suggestion
  - For this purpose, to this end, with this in mind, therefore
- LIST OF USEFUL TRANSITION WORDS: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
Useful Actions Verbs for Resume
- https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome
Other Useful Words to Know
- Community
- Applicable skills
- Attitudinal
- Builds on
- Capacity
- Component
- Commitment
- Diverse
- In-kind
- Identified Needs/Impact
- Inquiry Based
- Measurable/Quantifiable Objective
- Meet the need of…
- Nurtures Native Language Proficiency
- Objectives
- Outcomes (Academic/Social)
- Participate
- Fluency
- Opportunity
- Knowledge
- Teamwork
- Challenge
- Success
- Research
- Skill
- Inherently
- Achieve

Use This, Not That

Overused Words	Better Alternatives
Very large	Immense, enormous
Very capable	Talented, accomplished
Very strong	Robust, powerful
Increase	Raise, rise, maximize, magnify
Improve	Develop, expand, ameliorate, refine, promote
Problems	Challenges
Convincing	Compelling
Help	Empower, aid, lead
Poor	Economically disadvantaged, underserved, underprivileged, indigent
Not seen/heard	Voiceless, underrepresented

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