poor diction
[/pʊr ˈdɪkʃən/]
noun phrase
dicção pobre
1. The use of inappropriate, imprecise, or inadequate word choices in writing or speech that fails to effectively communicate ideas or convey intended meaning
The essay suffered from poor diction, with vague words like 'thing' and 'stuff' used throughout.
O ensaio sofria de dicção pobre, com palavras vagas como 'coisa' e 'negócio' usadas repetidamente.
2. A lack of precision in vocabulary selection that results in ambiguous, confused, or ineffective communication
The speaker's poor diction made it difficult for the audience to understand the technical presentation.
A dicção pobre do palestrante tornou difícil para a audiência compreender a apresentação técnica.
In both Brazilian and American educational contexts, 'poor diction' is a critical term used by teachers and writing instructors to identify weaknesses in student writing and speech. It's emphasized as a key area for improvement in writing workshops and language courses. The term is more formal and academic in nature, commonly found in style guides and composition textbooks.
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