Denotation refers to its literal meaning.Among people with whom writing is not common the evidence of a transaction is given by some tangible memorial or significant ceremony: Abraham gave seven ewe-lambs to Abimelech as an evidence of his property in the well of Beersheba. What’s the difference between connotation and denotation?Ĭonnotation refers to a word’s implied meaning. Use the word connotation when you’re discussing the image a word evokes, particularly when this image isn’t explicitly part of the word’s definition. When should you use the word connotation?
Merriam-Webster’s definition of connotation is the suggesting of a meaning by a word apart from the thing it explicitly names or describes. While “clique” and “group” mean the same thing, “clique” has a negative connotation because it implies an exclusivity that “group” doesn’t.Ĭonnotation FAQs What does connotation mean?.For example, “trousers” has a different connotation in the United States than it does in the United Kingdom. Sometimes, words have different connotations across dialects.Instead of advertising that “children are welcome,” the restaurant describes itself as “family friendly” because of the phrase’s warm connotation.To communicate the size of my textbook, I described it as a “tome” because of the word’s connotation.Instead of saying he’d been “fired,” which has the connotation that he’d performed his job poorly, he told us he’d been “let go.”.I had to look up an unfamiliar word to find its denotation.Her sign said “Will work for food,” and the connotation, that she was hungry, was clear.Here are a few examples of connotation and denotation in sentences: Denotation refers to a word’s literal definition. denotationĪ word’s connotation is the opposite of its denotation. In the second sentence, the word nuance would be a better choice. In the first sentence, the word implication would be correct in place of connotation. Climate change can be a polarizing topic, and there’s a lot of connotation surrounding it.They said they’d be too busy to play soccer next semester, giving the connotation that they were taking a heavy course load.Here are a few sentences that use connotation incorrectly: Euphemisms are often attempts to avoid words’ negative connotations.
We chose to name our healthy snack business Garden Goodies because “garden” has a connotation of freshness.Here are a few examples of the word connotation in sentences: Instead, use connotation to note how a word is understood. For example, you wouldn’t write that a connotation for palate, a word typically used to mean “the roof of the mouth,” is “one’s ability to detect and savor a range of flavors.” These are both denotations (or literal meanings) of palate. Similarly, don’t use it to define a word or to describe an alternate definition. Correct ways to use connotationĭon’t use connotation to describe a word’s literal meaning. As an essay writer, you might employ this strategy in reaction essays, personal essays, and when crafting rhetorical questions. Connotations of words essentially “flavor” the text, often giving it the subjectivity that separates a narrative from a basic story plot. You might find yourself using this word in analytical essays to discuss what the authors set out to communicate through their works and how you interpreted it. You’re discussing the nuance of that word and how it shapes the reader’s or listener’s understanding of your words. When you use the word connotation in your writing, you are commenting on how a specific word or phrase is typically understood. Synonyms for connotation include implication, undertone, and undercurrent. Use connotation when discussing words’ meanings, specifically how they’re understood, interpreted, and chosen in relation to a message’s tone. I avoided using the word “urgent” because of its connotation. ” It’s the image a word evokes beyond its literal definition.Ĭonnotation is a noun. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly What does connotation mean?Ĭonnotation, pronounced kah-nuh-tay-shn, means “something suggested by a word or thing.
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