IAtionary: Use Diction

Use dic-tion [yooz DIK-shuhn] v.


1. To annoy or bother an IA lit teacher, particularly Miss Belzyt
2. To use any concept learned in class to make fun of the teacher, almost always in a light-hearted, fun way, as in accusing the teacher who taught one about fallacies of committing fallacies. For further reading, if you have the patience, see the hilarious story we read in Lit class a while back, Love is a Fallacy, at http://www1.asknlearn.com/ri_Ilearning/English/631/elang-ilearning/page3a.htm
3. To improperly use a concept learned in class in a situation where it does not apply

Origin of the term:
Near the beginning of the year, Miss Belzyt told the class that "Diction is word choice" (no I will not cite that). She then proceeded to say that it was improper to say that an author 'uses diction' because everyone picks words to write with. It is better to say what kind of words are used. Some time later, when she asked the class to discuss a story we had read for homework, Student P raised his hand and (purposefully) said that the author uses diction, to bother Miss B, as we all love to do. She pretended to get all upset about it (yes I'm sure she was pretending) and told him that that was wrong. Ever since, we go through a similar ordeal each time we read anything, and it's funnier each time. It's even come so far that it can be used in just about any situation. If Miss Belzyt asks a question that you don't know, the answer can always be 'the author uses diction."

A quick note about #2: wow that's soooo much fun to do. Read a bit about fallacies on Wikipedia or somewhere and start accusing teachers of them. They are remarkably easy to find if your eyes are open- everyone does it, even the most prestigiously trained IA teachers. The effect you're going for is well illustrated in Love is a Fallacy- get as close to that as you can. I've come pretty close a few times:)