WORD CONNOTATIONS

Overview

Recently, we practiced changing sentences (by changing nouns, pronouns, and verbs, and by adding adjectives, adverbs, and comparisons) to make our sentences more exciting. Not only can we change sentences and add to them, but we can also pick words carefully to help create our mood or add more emotion to what we are saying.

What is connotation?

Every word has two meanings: a denotative meaning and a connotative meaning. A words denotative meaning is the meaning we could look up and find in a dictionary. It is simply the definition of what that word means. A words connotative meaning is the emotional meaning of a word. Even though two words might mean the exact same thing in the dictionary, one might have a more positive meaning and one might have a more negative meaning.

Example

Lets take the word inactive. By definition, it means not active; motionless; without movement. However, if we use the word to describe a person, there are a lot of words we could use that mean the same thing: sedentary, passive, sluggish, indolent, inert, relaxed, lazy, etc.

Lets look at the last two words, relaxed and lazy. Would you rather someone call you relaxed or lazy? Why?

Explanation

Even though words might, by definition, mean the same thing (denotative meaning), they can be taken in very different ways (connotative meaning). If you tell a friend that she looks relaxed, she might take it as a compliment. If you tell a friend that she looks lazy, she would probably be offended. When we write, we want to make sure we choose words that convey the connotative meaning we are intending.

Practice

Rank these words from most positive to least positive. My sister is quite ____________________

Stubborn Strong-willed Pigheaded Determined Resolute Arrogant

Practice

Rank these words from most positive to least positive. That man looks very _____________________

Old Out-of-date Elderly Mature Grown-up Old-fashioned