DICTION
wording, diction, phrasing, phraseology, choice of words, verbiage
(noun) the manner in which something is expressed in words; “use concise military verbiage”- G.S.Patton
enunciation, diction
(noun) the articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
diction (countable and uncountable, plural dictions)
Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication.
The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.
Source: Wiktionary
Dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to
say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach, token: cf. F.
diction. See Teach, and cf. Benison, Dedicate, Index, Judge, Preach,
Vengeance.]
Definition: Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction,
disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to
clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as,
the diction of Chaucer's poems.
His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur.
De Quincey.
Syn.
– Diction, Style, Phraseology. Style relates both to language and
thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical
structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The
style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of
composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at
times, was careless and cumbersome. "Diction is a general term
applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition.
Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of
words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction;
but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties
of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are
what is comprehended under the name of style." Crabb.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition