Building Word Power: Learning the Rules

KISS (Keep it Short and Simple)—She’s a woman.
KISS (Keep it Short but Sophisticated)—She’s a tall, attractive and intelligent woman.

UNDERSTANDING OF APPROPRIACY
There are ‘right words’ for ‘right occasions’.
The words we choose must be governed by gender correctness, courtesy, register and culture.

Gender correctness

Courtesy
Certain words, though common to the language, are considered impolite when used to describe people. The words ‘fat’, ‘skinny’ and ‘old’ are three such examples. In the sentences below, these words are considered impolite.
‘A fat woman sat next to me on the bus’. A better choice of words would be to say ‘An overweight woman’. Likewise, ‘full-figured’ is desirable to ‘heavy’.
‘A skinny boy asked me to dance’. Using the words ‘thin’ or ‘lean’ would be more courteous.
‘Old people tend to be forgetful’. The word ‘elderly’ would make for an appropriate substitution.

Register
It refers to the correct use of formal and informal language. HOWEVER informality is slowly but surely creeping into formal expression.
phrasal verbs: to put up with = tolerate; to put down = suppress; to put forth = propose; to put in for = submit/ request; etc.
slang: kid(s) = child/ children; bucks = money; cops = police, etc.
vulgarity

Cultural appropriacy
It refers to understanding how certain words change in meaning depending upon the culture to which they apply. Several examples appear below:

The best and cheapest way to learn authentic language is to read, read, read, read, read, read, read, . . . .