What is a thesaurus?
A thesaurus is a reference tool that is helpful to find synonyms (words that are the same in meaning to a specific word.) Thesauri are traditionally published in print form but are more conveniently available online. Like a dictionary, a thesaurus can allow you to expand the way that you explain your topic. A thesaurus contains groupings of words that are added in terms of their meaning.
How to use thesaurus
If you want to change a new word for one that you have used too much, simply search the word up in a thesaurus and find different alternatives. If you are working on an online thesaurus, you should type your original word (or phrase) in the site’s search box. It will show you a list of alternative words with the same meanings. You can also see the word’s part(s) of speech and, in some cases, its definition and pronunciation. If the word has more than one part of speech, synonyms will be provided for each of its functions. These synonyms are the substitutes that can be used in place of your specific word or phrase.
What to take into consideration?
Sometimes the synonyms do not have the same feeling or nuance as the original word. In order to check you are not using a word with a different feeling, do a "cross-check" of the new word by finding its own definition to make sure it matches the feeling you desire. A thesaurus can help you to have a stronger connection with your audience, as well as a better understanding of your content.
Are there any free thesauri online?
There are tons of online thesauri both free and paid out there! The most famous is Thesaurus.com, yet you can also refer to Collins Dictionary and Your Dictionary.
That was pretty easy right? Let me know in the comments how you use your thesaurus to help you when writing or translating. Do you know any online thesaurus?
BONUS - Did you know?
“Thesaurus” is actually a Greek word and comes from “θησαυρός” (thēsauros) meaning treasure, treasury.
Stefanos Karampalis
Eng – Gr Translator | Greek Article Writer
Visit my website & blog to learn more about me and the Greek language
Hi everyone! 😀
Time for some reading! Check out my Translation & Article Writing Blog. Let me know in comments or DM if you find it useful or what topics you would like to see on it.
Regards,
Stefanos
Many people are leaving their 9-5 jobs to become freelancers. However, it can be quite a daunting task for you if you’ve never worked in the translation industry independently before. Therefore, I am going to discuss some tips for new freelance translators below.
1. STRUCTURE YOUR DAYS
One of the main advantages of being self-employed is that you can set your own hours. Creating a daily schedule doesn’t take much time.
2. SET YOUR RATES
One of the most confusing things about starting out as a freelance translator is figuring out what to charge by knowing how much you want to earn and how many hours you are willing to work per week.
3. FIGURE OUT YOUR NICHE
One of the best ways to get more work as a translator is to have a niche market that you are experienced in and work on achieving that goal.
4. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!
When you’re working very hard and trying to make new clients, you should make sure that your language skills are fresh and up-to-date.
5. PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY WORK
It can be tempting to take on as many jobs as possible in order to get paid when starting out. However, it is more beneficial to provide your best work.
6. MARKET YOURSELF
It is a bitter reality that companies can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist. But you should spend some time to identify your target clients and contact them.
Stefanos Karampalis
Eng – Gr Translator
Don't forget to visit my website!
Great article! I like thesaurus.com it's very user-friendly but my favorite is freethesaurus.com. I didn't know Your Dictionary, it seems like a brilliant resource as well :)
An absolute lifesaver! Macmillan Thesaurus is quite helpful as well. :)