19. Features available: thesaurus

Most word processing software is supplied with a thesaurus.

This tool allows you to enter a word and then search for synonyms i.e. related terms.

A thesaurus is an indispensable tool for a writer. Using a thesaurus well, along with a good dictionary, can greatly improve your writing by enriching your vocabulary and helping you express yourself more subtly and precisely.

Using a thesaurus can help you avoid repetition and find more accurate and attractive ways to say what you want to say, by providing you with alternatives to basic vocabulary.

Imagine that you are writing a text about disease, and you find yourself using the word bacteria in almost every sentence. It would be useful to find some alternative words that you could use instead of bacteria, so you look up the word 'bacteria' using the thesaurus tool as shown above. You now have the option of using 'microorganisms', 'microbes' and 'germs'.