Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered).

When a student almost uses a word correctly, we call that a cute mistake. Can't knock 'em for trying. Words that are similar in meaning can be tricky. Teasing out these nuances not only supports other substandards, but also builds a broader, heftier, more flexible vocabulary. Exposure to words, words, and more words produces refined writing and increases the accuracy of communication.