A LIST OF WORDS USEFUL IN DESCRIPTIVE WRITING Modifications of “Small” wee tiny little dwarfed fine minute diminutive microscopic infinitesimal miniature thumb-nail dwindling minor meagre grain of speck of morsel of sliver of thimbleful of sprinkling of minimum of dash of iota of atom of particle of mite of Modifications of “Large” big great huge grand giant bulky mammoth voluminous spacious massive titanic considerable ample tremendous enormous mighty vast colossal gigantic stupendous elephantine immense magnitudinous august ponderous
WORDS USEFUL IN CHARACTERIZATION serene charitable warm-hearted generous brave faithful delicate manly heroic angelic penitent decent gentle hospitable knightly neighbourly ardent perverse hangdog wayward angry shyster spineless ruthless disdainful severe snobbish heartless menacing flirt mischievous depraved wretch bully licentious just good-natured soft-natured humane truthful constant dignified conscientious stoical virtuous regenerate religious happy well-bred winning refined fastidious obstinate ill-tempered refractory pouting mercenary jealous revengeful derisive sardonic dishonest forward barbaric treacherous selfish criminal rogue blackguard sensual kindly sympathetic merciful bountiful respectful incorruptible upright innocent good harmless decorous Christian light-hearted civil polished obliging model crabbed grouchy ungovernable malicious arrogant envious grudging sarcastic satirical erotic irate tactless debauched worldly corrupt rake scamp libertine gracious indulgent altruistic compassionate honourable candid honest chivalrous dutiful sober continent sincere joyful cultured cordial affectionate sullen sulky moody cantankerous miserly shrewish suspicious covetous ironic hypercritical conceited wrathful churlish traitor vicious diabolic jade ne’er-do-well lazy
benevolent complacent fatherly lenient of integrity impartial straightforward gallant saintly self-controlled modest amiable courteous affable tactful tender morose gloomy cross peevish sneaking DESCRIPTIVE OF PERSON BODY broad-shouldered round-shouldered rotund fat lean slender skinny pudgy bulging pot-bellied athletic thin lithe bent CLOTHING colour material baggy shabby threadbare tattered torn careless pressed stained neat HEAD hair nose eyes face chin lips teeth face POSTURE leaning bowed erect military drooping graceful stiff awkward GAIT rolling quick nervous ambling jerky limping waddling laboured dancing dragging lying vindictive contemptuous cynical hypocritical niggardly defiant brutal conspirator immoral incorrigible rowdy degenerate immature MOVEMENT OF PERSONS approach stalk leap scurry toddle usher in travel roam bolt hover promenade lead away skip depart lag retire retreat shuffle step shamble meander loiter journey range trail patrol trudge arrive limp leave race flee proceed strut withdraw rove vacate flit waddle prowl pace tramp encounter rush sally forth push on walk glide collide trip slide sidle wheel enter encircle swerve jaunt traverse hike alight linger follow press on tread stride stumble hasten edge dodge go perambulate sidestep stroll march chase dismount hobble scamper halt lumber swing along run sprint veer ramble come wander dash saunter plod cross dance burst in stagger return
MOVEMENT OF OBJECTS spin dance roll whiz drive penetrate shed swing flicker shiver shatter mingle turn ascend glide sweep hurtle infiltrate emit sway fall tumble jerk fluctuate wheel mount flow swish fling emerge disgorge flutter twitch flop stir wave SETTING
Setting involves more than the pictorial description of a scene. Time, season, and social atmosphere are important. Appeal should be made to other senses beside that of sight.
HEARING thunder yelp murmur purr rustle racket yap peal sniffle clang blare sob drone rick fizz squeak hiss hushed soothing grating chanting boom rapping mutter gurgle drumming snap tune whisper accent outcry whistle sigh rustle thud clank whine musical muffled dulcet sawing toot volley tinkle ripple ratatat slam echo buzz din clatter bark crash chime thump scream groan sonorous muted hoarse strident TASTE detonation trumpeting reverberation ding dong tintinnabulation ear-splitting splash sibilant discordant shout singsong toll ring roar whirr resonant liquid husky shrill SMELL TOUCH fragrant odorous scented perfumed aromatic stinking redolent fetid foul dank putrid musty velvety rough smooth sticky flabby sharp hot cold icy dry wet brittle leathery gummy tickling furry oily crisp fuzzy bowl climb stream fly recede spout plunge tremble shake throb churn beat rock tilt shift bounce converge percolate vibrate drop quaver pulsate jounce wag quiver rear turn jolt unite gush whirl zoom quake palpitate toss flat peppery sweet sour bitter salty acid spicy savoury insipid astringent nauseating
COLOUR Red crimson rose cerise maroon wine scarlet cardinal burgundy vermillion carmine cherry magenta bloody coral ruby flame White silvery pearly ivory bleached snowy ashen frosted hoary milky creamy fair pale Green verdant olive pea-green emerald jade Blue azure sky-blue cerulean robin’s egg navy midnight baby blue aquamarine Brown russet bronze chestnut chocolate tan bay auburn hazel gold buff tawny gilt lemon flaxen amber primrose saffron Black sable ebony inky pitchy sooty sombre dusky Yellow Variegated plaid patch-work parquet mosaic spotted chequered flecked striped streaked speckled sprinkled stippled dotted tattooed mottled piebald dappled
FORM AND SHAPE OF OBJECTS crescent square festoon scallop honeycomb misshapen bent aquiline blunt corrugated corduroy barbed arch diamond wreath cone furrow straight twisted forked curling bulging woven dented bow wedge halo cylinder groove round jagged crinkled sinuous swollen braided folded ring arrow oval sphere joint circular angular akimbo tortuous hallowed salient twisted arc elbow band tongue symmetrical crooked serrated riffed kinky fluted pointed tangle
POSITION AND LOCATION OF OBJECTS OR PERSONS at one side
to the right a few feet away beyond a yard away
encircling at the crotch along the fringes in the middle at the head at the foot diagonally opposite at the apex above below
beyond between
in the (middle) distance in the foreground at the rim above the horizon opposite
within the circle vis-a-vis parallel with joining adjoining toucing tangent to at the junction stretching from alongside side-by-side to the east fronting flanking skirting in the background at the front at the back abreast astern enclosing embracing overlapping draped over covering outside across sloping straddling dovetailed interlocked at the tip of radiating from balancing meandering through
SHIFTING THE SCENE Ante-dating the Action
meanwhile while
had its origin in prior to somedays past anteceding a week before he recalled looking back upon a flood of memories came
never passed that place without remembering previous to this before this in the meantime preceding this previously had anticipated he reviewed he remembered
Forwarding the Action some days later after an interval the outcome was as a consequence they met again afterwards subsequently this precipitated not until a week later on the succeeding day it led to a strange encounter not long afterward
after the lapse of as an aftermath consequently then
in due season there followed there came a day
SUBSITUTES FOR “THOUGHT” pondered remembered mused considered weighed bethought doubted reduced evolved knew reminded imagined wondered recollected speculated dreamed realized apprehended disbelieved reviewed fathomed opined expected idealized guessed cogitated deliberated ruminated believed theorized puzzled estimated solved trusted foresaw hope determined reflected studied brooded fancied inferred debated appreciated credited memorized theorized decided recalled meditated reasoned digested cerebrated supposed judged rated distrusted conjured conjectured
6 SUBSTITUTES FOR “SAW”
noted watched perceived noticed described surveyed scanned glanced at pried into faded out discerned espied looked at stared made out peered at inspected leered at visioned detected glimpsed witnessed regarded gaped recognized sighted marked speculated envisaged penetrated
SUBSTITUTES FOR “SAID” asserted professed propounded swore repeated stammered contradicted soliloquized mentioned published insinuated gabbled alluded to harangued uttered clamoured whined gushed affirmed acknowledged announced vowed expressed stuttered refused reported intimidated notified mumbled spluttered glanced at chatted ejaculated roared moaned prattled declared advanced enunciated assured spouted hesitated gainsaid advised represented specified muttered sputtered suggested tattled cried grumbled bawled debated stated proposed maintained certified ranted faltered recanted informed communicated described lisped drawled lectured gossiped shouted whooped groaned thought aloud protested alleged contended emphasized recited denied revoked instructed made known hinted jabbered croaked preached babbled shrieked yelled palavered beheld viewed eyed examined peeked at discovered scrutinized peeped at squinted at foresaw observed distinguished gazed at spied upon reconnoitred contemplated took stock of commanded a view looked askance at
