Persuasive vocabulary such as "highly recommended by" can be used to influence responses. Persuasive words and phrases are usually positive in tone and often superlative, e.g. "the most effective".
How do you speak when you are trying to persuade someone to act in a particular way? Do you choose your words and your tone of voice carefully? How effective is a phrase such as, "Mum,
please?" That might get you an extra slice of cake or another hour out with your friends, but it is not the most persuasive of techniques.
In order to be persuasive, people use emotive language, logical argument backed up with supporting evidence and direct appeals to the audience. Persuasive language is generally used in advertisements, certain types of leaflets and emails or letters to the editor or other people of influence. Applying for jobs is another example of a situation requiring persuasive writing.
Try this quiz on vocabulary building using persuasive words.
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1.
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Which term might persuade customers to buy a product? |
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Guaranteed |
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Unconfirmed |
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Unguaranteed |
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Unverified |
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2.
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Which word might dissuade customers? |
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Commended |
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Highly recommended |
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Not recommended |
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Recommended |
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3.
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Which word might convince readers? |
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Never proven |
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Not proven |
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Proven |
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Unproven |
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4.
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Which word has a positive tone? |
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Certain |
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Least certain |
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Less certain |
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Uncertain |
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5.
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Which result is most likely to be accepted? |
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Inaccurate |
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Least accurate |
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Less accurate |
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Most accurate |
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6.
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Which evidence might be used? |
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Least reliable |
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Less reliable |
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Reliable |
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Unreliable |
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7.
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Which candidate is likely to win? |
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Least popular |
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Less popular |
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Most popular |
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Unpopular |
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8.
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Which word might be used to persuade? |
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Inferior |
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Least |
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Lesser |
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Superior |
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9.
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Which word persuades the reader about reliability? |
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Least trustworthy |
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Less trustworthy |
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Trustworthy |
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Untrustworthy |
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10.
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Which word is persuasive in tone? |
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Effective |
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Ineffective |
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Least effective |
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Less effective |
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1.
|
Which term might persuade customers to buy a product? |
|
| [x] |
Guaranteed |
| [ ] |
Unconfirmed |
| [ ] |
Unguaranteed |
| [ ] |
Unverified |
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2.
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Which word might dissuade customers? |
|
| [ ] |
Commended |
| [ ] |
Highly recommended |
| [x] |
Not recommended |
| [ ] |
Recommended |
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3.
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Which word might convince readers? |
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| [ ] |
Never proven |
| [ ] |
Not proven |
| [x] |
Proven |
| [ ] |
Unproven |
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4.
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Which word has a positive tone? |
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| [x] |
Certain |
| [ ] |
Least certain |
| [ ] |
Less certain |
| [ ] |
Uncertain |
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5.
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Which result is most likely to be accepted? |
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| [ ] |
Inaccurate |
| [ ] |
Least accurate |
| [ ] |
Less accurate |
| [x] |
Most accurate |
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6.
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Which evidence might be used? |
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| [ ] |
Least reliable |
| [ ] |
Less reliable |
| [x] |
Reliable |
| [ ] |
Unreliable |
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7.
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Which candidate is likely to win? |
|
| [ ] |
Least popular |
| [ ] |
Less popular |
| [x] |
Most popular |
| [ ] |
Unpopular |
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8.
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Which word might be used to persuade? |
|
| [ ] |
Inferior |
| [ ] |
Least |
| [ ] |
Lesser |
| [x] |
Superior |
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9.
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Which word persuades the reader about reliability? |
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| [ ] |
Least trustworthy |
| [ ] |
Less trustworthy |
| [x] |
Trustworthy |
| [ ] |
Untrustworthy |
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10.
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Which word is persuasive in tone? |
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| [x] |
Effective |
| [ ] |
Ineffective |
| [ ] |
Least effective |
| [ ] |
Less effective |
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