DESCRIBING OBJECTS AND PEOPLE
Good descriptions include many vivid sensory details that paint a picture and appeals to all of the reader’s senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste when appropriate. Descriptions may also paint pictures of the feelings of the person, place or thing invoked.
Good descriptions often make use of figurative language such as analogies, similes and metaphors to help paint the picture.
Good descriptions use precise language. General adjectives, nouns, and passive verbs do not have a place. Use specific adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs to give life to the picture you are painting in the reader’s mind.
Describing Objects
You should describe the following while describing Objects:
i. Describe things in terms of their size
ii. Describe things in terms of their colour
iii. Describe things in terms of their smell
iv. Describe things in terms of their taste
v. Describe things in terms of their texture.
Describing People
Use the suggestions below to describe a person.
Character/Personality
§ Intelligent, bright, clever, smart, shrewd, able, gifted, talented.
§ Lacking ability: stupid, foolish, half-witted, simple, silly, cunning, crafty, sly, optimistic, pessimistic, outward looking, inward looking, introvert, extrovert, practical, sensible, down to earth, relaxed, tensed, sociable, gregarious, quarrelsome, argumentative, cruel, sadistic, easy going, even tempered, impolite, rude, ill-mannered, discourteous, honest, trustworthy, reliable, sincere, jealous, envious, determined, obstinate, stubborn, pig-headed, thrifty, economical, miserly, mean, tight-fisted, self-assured, self-important, arrogant, assertive, aggressive, original, peculiar, weird, eccentric, odd, frank, direct, open, blunt, abrupt, brusque, curt, broad-minded, unprincipled permissive, inquiring, inquisitive nosy (colloquial), generous, extravagant, innocent, naïve, ambitious.
Face shape
- Square
- Oval
- Round
- Triangular
- Heart-shaped
Skin/Face/Complexion
Complexion is the natural appearance and colour of the skin, especially of the face; e.g. Mary has a soft, creamy complexion.
- Freckled : sprinkled or covered with light brown spots
- Rosy : pink-cheeked; fair complexion that glows with a hint of pink
- Ruddy : skin that has a healthy reddish tint; may have the appearance of sunburn
- Tanned : skin with a healthy golden-brown tint
- Wrinkled : full of or covered with lines or loose folds of skin; often associated with age
- Other skin-related adjectives: pale, spotless, silky, smooth, creamy, baby-soft, glowing, paper-thin or translucent (as with a very old person); rough, callused, dry.
EYES
General
- Brown-eyed mother, bright-eyed sister, wide-eyed child
Eye expressions
- Adj. eyes : piercing, mesmerizing, sad, sorrowful, tear-filled, gentle, sympathetic, warm, compassionate, expressive, twinkling, lively, dancing, laughing
Eye Shape and Size
- Large, small, almond-shaped, round, slanted, squinty, crinkly
Mouth/Lips
- Thin lips, full lips, pouting lips, pursed lips (puckered up, like when someone is concentrating)
- Laugh, smile, beam, grin, frown, grimace, scowl
HAIR
Texture/Appearance
- Wavy, curly, straight, spiky, stiff, buzzed, shaved, parted, neatly-combed, tamed, long, short, cropped
Hair Styles
- Braids, ponytail, pigtails, bun, bob, ringlets, flip, layered, gelled, spiked, slicked down
Lots of hair
- Thick, full, lustrous, bushy, coarse, wiry (stiff).
Little hair
- Thin, scraggly, fine, baby-fine, wispy, limp, flat, balding, bald, bald spot, receding hairline (gradual loss of hair at the front of the head).
Treated hair
- Dyed, bleached, highlighted, plaited
Hair Colour
- Black, brunette, brown, chestnut-brown, honey-blond, blond, golden-blond, ash-blond, auburn, red, strawberry-blond, gray, silver, white, salt-and-pepper
Facial Hair
- Beard, goatee, mustache, sideburns
- New beard growth, shadowy in appearance, that can be seen late in the day on the jaw, chin, or cheek area (also known as stubble)
- Adjectives : bearded, unshaven, clean-shaven, trimmed, neatly-trimmed
CLOTHING
- Fabric : denim, twill, wool, cotton, tweed, polyester, corduroy, fleece, spandex, leather
- Bottoms : jeans, cargo pants, flat-front pants, pleated pants, slacks, trousers, overalls, sweatpants, crop pants, capris, skirt, culotters, shorts, board shorts
- Tops : sport shirt, dress shirt, polo shirt, button-down shirt, tank top, blouse, long-sleeve, short-sleeve, sleeveless, collared, T-shirt, sweatshirt, pullover, sweater, cardigan
- Other clothing : dress, uniform, costume, pajamas, bathrobe, robe, vest, jacket, blazer, coat, socks, stockings, gloves, hat, cap, shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, flip-flops, heels, pumps.
Sentence Starters Describing Clothes
- Smartly dressed in (name of garment)
- Casually attired in (name of garment)
- Simply clad in (name of garment)
Some useful points to remember:
§ The subject of a description can be people and places, objects or processes and mechanisms.
§ To write a good description you should know why it is written and who it is written for.
§ Because describing something involves recreating your experiences and impressions, it is important that you perceive accurately the subject of your description before you begin writing.
§ Be as specific as you can and give as many details as possible.
§ Avoid using general, vague or abstract words in your descriptions.
§ In describing processes and mechanisms, remember to use the passive voice and also follow a sequence that can be indicated by words such as ‘firstly’, ‘secondly’, ‘then’, ‘next’, ‘finally’.
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