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Use Thesaurus for better communication – Shift F7

thesaurus shortcut Shift F7

This keyboard shortcut opens the thesaurus in Office products (including Outlook).

So what is the big deal?

Well… many of us know that the thesaurus exists. But we rarely use it.

Start using it more frequently.

Scenarios where thesaurus should be used

  1. Stinker Mails: Replying to mails where some kind of fight is happening or you are really angry with someone and writing a stinker … Press F7… choose the right words carefully. See the difference it makes.
  2. Writing copy for mailers, brochures, etc. Using the right word matters because this is going to be seen by thousands of people.
  3. Presentation titles: These are seen first. The space available is less. If the title is not relevant and powerful, audience will not read the rest of the content. Therefore, use F7.
  4. Resume: This is probably the most important document in our lives. So pay attention to it.

Warning: Don’t use big words. Use the right words!

There is a danger of using the Thesaurus. We tend to choose heavy, sophisticated, complex words instead of using simpler words. That is NOT the purpose of using a thesaurus.

The idea is to use the most suitable and impactful word in a given context.

If you are not sure about the usage, you can click on the word to get more details…

thesaurus in Office

Remember to hear pronunciations as well

Many of us pronounce common words in a wrong manner. In most cases, people around us either don’t realize it, don’t care or are too junior to tell you about your mistake. So that reduces the clarity of verbal communication – especially if you need present to a large group of audience on a frequent basis.

In any case, it is a good idea to hear the pronunciation and correct yourself if you notice a problem.

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