What does 'word choice' refer to in literature?

• A. Words used to convey the tone and mood.
• B. The emotional definition of a word.
• C. The dictionary definition of a word.
• D. The feelings the author creates in the reader.

Answer: (A)

Word choice, or diction, is the author’s selection of specific words to shape how readers perceive the subject—especially the tone the author takes and the mood the passage creates. Different words carry different connotations and levels of formality, which affects atmosphere, imagery, and attitude. For example, choosing “whisper” and “crisp” instead of “shiny” and “bright” can create a more delicate, precise mood. This isn’t about a dictionary definition or merely the emotions a word might evoke in isolation; it’s about how the deliberate choice of words produces particular feelings in the reader. The resulting feelings come from word choice, but the concept here focuses on the craft of selecting words to convey tone and mood.