When enhancing your style for diction, why is it important to pay attention to the denotation and connotation of the words you choose?

When selecting diction, be aware of a word’s dictionary definition (denotation) and all the associations we have with that word (connotation). Unintentionally choosing a word with a complex connotation can completely change the meaning of what you are writing. It is also important to understand that words with complex connotations are better suited to writing that is intended to engage the reader or explore personal thoughts and ideas. If your writing is intended to develop a message or theme, you will want to select diction whose denotation and connotation match up closely.