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Unit 3 Writing for Successful Communication
Shades of Meaning
Good writers look for fresh, clear words to describe and express ideas.
They are also always aware that words should be handled with care. Words
have an exact meaning or meanings according to the dictionary, but sometimes
words convey even more meaning outside of their defi nition. A word’s
meaning can vary according to the context in which it is used. Context
is the
words or paragraphs surrounding a word that can explain the meaning.
In some cases, however, context is not enough. The real meaning of some
words resides in the mind of the user or the listener, not in the word itself or in
its dictionary defi nition. This is what is known as the connotation
of a word—
its meaning apart from what it
explicitly names or describes.
This is where the shades of
meaning become a concern for
the writer.
An example of connotation
is the word foreign. In spite of
its basic meaning of simply
referring to something outside
of one’s own country, the
word may have a negative
connotation to some people.
The word foreign can be
associated with the idea of
other, meaning not one of us or
not like us. Thus, in the business
world, you will fi nd the word
international is most often used
in place of the word foreign.
With careful attention to
shades of meaning among
similar words, consider the
audience’s interpretation
of a word’s meaning when
editing your writing.
This will help you avoid
the common problems
of misunderstanding
or misinterpretation in
communication. For example,
if you describe an offi ce
facility as adequate for our needs,
one reader may interpret
adequate as suffi cient. Another
reader may interpret adequate
to mean close to the lower limit
of quality or acceptability. Each
of these readers has a different
impression of the facility.
Be aware that many words have shades of meaning in
different cultures and even different areas of the country.
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