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"My Passion" - Synonyms

Andrew_2006

Does anyone have any better ways of rephrasing 'my passion' ? It does sound too cliched.

I was thinking perhaps something on the lines of 'my predilection to literature began at/when etc' instead of my passion started etc.

It does sound a little contrived, so has anyone got any better ideas?

'Interest'?

Andrew_2006

Is it really essential that you convey this? I've just finished my personal statement and haven't written anything about the beginning of my interest in literature - but on the other hand, I feel as though I have always had it! I just didn't think stating this would introduce anything useful into what I had written.

Rather than talking about when your passion began, how about writing about *what contributes* to your passion for the subject?

There's nothing wrong with writing 'interest' or indeed 'enjoy'. Universities are looking for enthusiasm in the subject; if this can be put across through simple language, then it should be equally valid. But I wouldn't use 'passion', for some reason or another. :smile:

Reply 3

Andrew_2006

Well my enthusiasm for literature was sparked by certain things I have read - so it is fairly essential.

Don't worry I have written a *lot* about what contributes to my passion for literature, just for this one sentence I feel I could do better than 'passion.

Reply 4

hobnob

Andrew_2006

Well my enthusiasm for literature was sparked by certain things I have read - so it is fairly essential.

Why don't you just use 'enthusiasm', then? :wink:

Reply 5

Andrew_2006

I don't know, but it seems so lifeless and 'samey'. I don't want to sound pretentious, something that will convey my love for the subject.

Reply 6

hobnob

Andrew_2006

I don't know, but it seems so lifeless and 'samey'. I don't want to sound pretentious, something that will convey my love for the subject.

But surely you'll be conveying your love for the subject mainly through your statement and not through coming up with a clever substitute for 'passion'? :dontknow:

You're right, it does sound like a bit of a cliché, but to be honest, I don't think there's any way of avoiding that...

As I mentioned before, I'd go for 'interest'. It isn't terribly original, but at least it's straightforward and doesn't sound as forced as 'passion' etc.

Reply 7

Andrew_2006

But surely you'll be conveying your love for the subject mainly through your statement and not through coming up with a clever substitute for 'passion'?

It's a case of first impressions, especially with a personal statement- as Tesco say 'every little helps'. I feel I have got the bulk of my personal statement sorted, hence now I'm trying to tweak bits to make it that little bit better.

Reply 8

Neutral_Tones

Hmm I think it's probably 'enthusiasm'! Are you applying to Southampton or Bristol? They're the ones who seem to be really against the word 'passion.' Actually try the "Help!" thread... there's an interesting link in there! :smile:

Reply 9

richardseapower

I'd stick with passion, enthusiasm, attraction to English maybe? Don't use 'predilection', it definitely sounds like an 'I used a thesaurus' word.

Reply 10

cheerios

hi im finding this hard too. On the one hand you want to show that you can convey meaning through good use of vocab and stand out but on the other you dont want it to sound forced and pretentious. Just to let you know i went for the more formal approach when i applied for deferred entry for english lit and had no luck. am now planning to sound more natural :smile:

Reply 11

Andrew_2006

Cheerios - where did you apply to?

Reply 12

cheerios

I applied to kings, ucl, warwick, exeter,york, durham! Not that high then! :smile:

I applied with predicted AAA to do english lit deferred entry and got rejected by all with no interview. there were a number of things i now know that were wrong with my application - it was sent off very late in december and my reference was a bit lacking for a number of reasons.
nevertheless i have realised style means alot in statements

Reply 13

epitome

Interesting dilemma...but one that every single person with an interest in language & how it works faces when writing the Personal Statement.

No advice here - you'll do what you will - but remember this: If you use "passion" (or other similar, 'basic/simple/cliched' word), so will an awful lot of other English applicants. If you use "Predilection" (or other similar contrived/looked up/pretentious word), so will an awful lot of other English applicants. Millions of these things have been written, and most formula have been squeezed dry (I pity the admissions tutors!)...as far as I can see, the best thing is to be entirely yourself. If you would normally use "predeliction" (etc.), by all means use it; and if you're naturally inclined to passion/enthusiasm/enjoyment (etc.), use it. If you allow YOUR personality/expressions to get through into the statement, it's much better than trying to be something you think the admissions tutors want to see (they don't).

Also, consider carefully the very real difference in meaning between "predilection" and "passion". Which do you actually mean? Say it.

Reply 14

cheerios

perhaps another way to do this is begin by saying what sparked your interest ...thats what leeds suggested anyway

Reply 15

whathaveu

I would change the logic of it , sometimes it is necessary to insert what u want to say , for instance : As I began reading literature, for the first time in my life I had a/felt a special sense of wholesomeness ...

(edited 7 years ago)

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"My Passion" - Synonyms

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