WRITING TECHNIQUES
Improving Vocabulary Precision: Replacing Get
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(Editor's Note : To learn more about the need to replace get with more precise words, click the Focus On link above and read the related article.)
To encourage language precision, find an appropriate synonym for get in the numbered sentences. Consider the following synonyms:
| achieve | earn | obtain | receive |
| bring | encourage | pay | secure |
| buy | find | produce | succeed |
| construct | gain | provide |
understand |
| deliver | generate | purchase | win/won |
1. To get a copy of the new medical plan, send an e-mail.
2. Three excellent candidates applied, and our department hopes to get one of them.
3. If you can get the lumber to the building site, we can begin construction.
4. Getting a college degree leads to greater opportunities.
5. You never know when your manager may go into your computer to get a file.
6. In leading a meeting, you should get everyone to participate.
7. Our salespeople must get results immediately.
8. You can get greater contributions if your fundraising letter lists specifics.
9. We expect to increase sales by getting customers to visit our new Web site.
10. Only when you get all the facts, can you fully comprehend the problem.
11. We can get an advantage over our competitor with snappy online sales messages.
12. The Department of Transportation promises to get guardrails at the most dangerous spots.
13. If you get stocks at a low price and sell at a high price, you will make a profit.
14. Because of heavy traffic, we didn't get to the meeting on time.
15. Our company can definitely get the contract if we produce the best proposal.
Key
1. receive/obtain
2. hire
3. deliver
4. Earning
5. find
6. encourage
7. produce
8. generate/produce
9. motivating/encouraging
10. understand/obtain
11. gain
12. construct
13. purchase
14. reach
15. win
© Mary Ellen Guffey
May be reproduced by instructors for educational purposes only.