How to Use Concord Writer to Help with Word Choice Errors

Appendix 5.1

How to Use Concord Writer to Help with Word Choice Errors

1. http://www.lextutor.ca/ à Concord Writer v.3

2. Copy and paste the sentence with the WC error into the Concord Writer box.

3. Double click on the WC error word

4. Click GO>>

5. Select ‘Choose a Corpus’, and then select Brown+BNC written (2m).

Then click Change>>

6. Make sure the dictionary says ‘Eng_Eng’, and click Get. The dictionary definition for your word is on the right side of the page.

Which of the word’s meanings is the one you want to say?

7. Now change the dictionary tab to Eng_your first language.

This gives you a corpus-based translation.

Does this give you any different meanings?

Which of your word’s meanings is the one you want to say?

8. Now, check your word in the context of your sentence—Do you still think it makes sense?

9. Now turn your attention to your Brown+BNC written (2m) concordance lines (they don’t change as you use the dictionary).

Select a few concordance lines that you understand.

10. Click the word to see the whole context, paying attention to how this word is used.

11. Check your word in the Concord Writer box again. Does it still make sense? Does it match how it’s used in any of the concordance lines?

12. Based on your answers to these questions, you can either:

a.) Keep the word* (Don’t keep the word if you have already been told it’s wrong for the context (WC)! This option is for students who are not sure if the new synonym they have chosen is correct for the context.)

b.) Find a new synonym and test it using Steps 2-11 to see if it will better fit your sentence.