This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, 2024 by Robin

This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, 2024 by Robin L. Simmons.

Appropriate Appropriate Words Words or or Expressions Expressions in in Context Context Astonished? Astounded? Bewildered? Confounded? Dazed? Dazzled? What’s the right word?

This presentation will help you distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate words or expressions for the given context.

On On an an objective objective test, test, an an item item evaluating evaluating the the skill skill might might look look like like this this .

Sample Sample Item Item When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose, we shouted, “Yuck!” We were by his behavior. A.unfazed B.dazzled C.repulsed repulsed Is Is unfazed, unfazed, Repulsed, which Repulsed, which dazzled, or dazzled, or means disgusted means disgusted repulsed the repulsed theisbest best or sickened, the or word sickened, is the to fill the word to fill the right choice. right choice. blank? blank?

What if I don’t know any of words that are options? Don’t panic! Try to determine the right word by looking for clues about meaning!

Clue Clue 1: 1: Look Look for for aa definition. definition. Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia, or the fear fearofof dogs, so dogs, soshe shewon’t won’tbe beinterested interestedininadopting adoptingaa puppy. Look Lookatfor for Look the Look at the commas, commas, sentence! sentence! The Theor parentheses, parentheses, or author has author has dashes dashes itthat that defined for defined it for encapsulate (or encapsulate (or you! It means the you! It means the set off) the set of off) the fear dogs. fear of dogs. definition. definition. Cynophobia! Cynophobia! That’s That’s such such aa big big word! word! How How am am II supposed supposed to to know know what what itit means? means?

Clue Clue 2: 2: Look Look for for examples. examples. My dog Jack is obdurate; for for example, example, hehe won’t won’t get get off the couch when I ask or come when he’s called. Look at Look at the the Look for phrases Look for phrases sentence! The sentence! The like to likeauthor to illustrate, illustrate, gives author givesor for instance, for instance, or examples! You examples! You such such as as that that can that can conclude conclude that provide provide Jack Jack is is that examples examples that stubborn, aa stubborn, define the word define the word synonym for synonym for you don’t know. you don’t know. obdurate. obdurate. Obdurate! Obdurate! That’s That’s another another big big word! word! II don’t don’t know know what what itit means! means!

Clue Clue 3: 3: Look Look for for contrast. contrast. Jill was sick sick with with the the flu, flu, so so when when we we explained explained the the salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins, she ate one. Look an Look for for an Look at the Look at the antonym—a antonym—a sentence! IfIf she’s sentence! she’s word that means word that means sick, she sick, she wants wants to to the opposite—to theget opposite—to well, so get well, sothe help figure out help figure out the salubrious must salubrious must meaning of meaning of the the mean healthmean healthword you wordgiving! you don’t don’t giving! know. know. Salubrious! Salubrious! I’ve I’ve never never heard heard of of it! it! How How am am II supposed supposed to to know know ifif it’s it’s the the right right word word or or not? not?

Clue Clue 4: 4: Infer Infer the the meaning. meaning. Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Sparky.Only Onlyhis hismother mother refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, “Cornelius!” “Cornelius!” when dinner is ready. Guess, Guess, or or infer, infer, Sparky the must Sparky the meaning! meaning! must be be Mothers aa nickname, like Mothers nickname, like to to call which their is what call which their ischildren children what aa sobriquet by is! sobriquet by their their real real is! names. names. Sobriquet! Sobriquet! Who Who uses uses that that word! word! II don’t don’t know know what what itit means! means!

At At many many objective objective exams, exams, you you can cannot not use use aa dictionary! dictionary! X

When When in in doubt, doubt, rely rely on on “gut” “gut” feelings. feelings. Your eyes have seen in print — and your brain has registered — all of the possible words that you will encounter for this skill. If you don’t know the meaning of any of the words, go with the one that feels right. Hey, I’ve seen that word before!

Quick Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the most effective word or phrase within the context suggested by the sentence(s). Your turn! Let’s see what you can do!

Item Item 1 1 After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor Clark’s research paper, we found his dull lecture the next morning . A.uplifting B.excruciating excruciating C.inspiring

Item Item 2 2 After Betsy’s last purchase of a lemon—and the dealership’s unwillingness to repair problems that she thought the warranty covered—Betsy the contract for her new car before she signed it. A. scrutinized A.scrutinized B.skimmed C.glanced at

Item Item 3 3 Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his head, and sighed. His for Loretta’s cooking was obvious. A.horror B.excitement C.disdain disdain

Item Item 4 4 The students wished Professor Davis gave directions for essays. Instead, the assignment sheets are pages long and chocked full of requirements. A.complicated B.wide C.succinct succinct

Item Item 5 5 Sara was filled with , for she had emailed Professor Carson to explain that she was too ill to attend class but then ran into him at the Student Center, a tennis racquet in her hand. A. trepidation A.trepidation B.mirth C.brevity

Item Item 6 6 Simon had to his cell phone after it rang for the third time in class. A. relinquish A.relinquish B.amputate C.postpone

Item Item 7 7 Roger’s car holds four people comfortably, but he stuffed nine classmates into the little vehicle. Larissa had difficulty herself from the backseat when they arrived at her house. A.modifying B.hovering C.extricating extricating

Item Item 8 8 Winston read his essay with a ruler, scrutinizing each line for errors. When he finished, he read it again just as carefully. We found his behavior , but teachers loved his control of grammar. A.punitive B.redundant redundant C.lackadaisical

Item Item 9 9 Larry dyed his hair blue and green and painted his face and torso in the same school colors. In addition, he wore flippers on his feet and hands. When his girlfriend Maria saw his game-day preparations, she gasped and declared them . A.subdued B.ostentatious ostentatious C.pedestrian

Item Item 10 10 We followed the guide down the stairs to the floor below the lobby. Then we toured the storerooms where the museum kept priceless treasures not on display. A. subterranean A.subterranean B.lofty C.incapacitated

After the denouement Or the End.