Audience in writing An Audience is the person for whom a writer writes, or composer composes.

A writer uses a particular style of language, tone, and content according to what he knows about his
audience. In simple words, audience refers to the spectators, listeners, and intended readers of a
writing, performance, or speech.

Infinitive phrases An infinitive phrase is a group of words that uses an infinitive (“to” + verb). An
infinitive is a verbal (a word that expresses action); so, an infinitive phrase has the same role of
expressing action in a sentence. An infinitive phrase is just a part of a sentence, working like a noun,
adjective, or adverb.

To study advanced math Adjective modifying “math”

To eat a giant sandwich Adjective modifying “sandwich”

To play guitar beautifully Adverb modifying “to play”

To leave the party quietly Adverb modifying “to leave”

Prepositional phrases A prepositional phrase is a group of words consisting of a preposition, its

object, and any words that modify the object. Most of the time, a prepositional phrase modifies a
verb or a noun. These two kinds of prepositional phrases are called adverbial phrases and adjectival
phrases, respectively.

Modifying Nouns: Adjectival Phrases

Sheila is the runner with the fastest time.

The boy with the tall woman is her son.

The bracelet in the storefront window is the one I want.

Modifying Verbs: Adverbial Phrases

This course is the most difficult in the state.

She ran the marathon with pride on Saturday.

We stayed at the cabin by the river.

Connotation a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word although it need not be a part of
the word's meaning, or something suggested by an object or situation

The word "lady" has connotations of refinement and excessive femininity that some women find
offensive.

Connotation is the use of a word to suggest a different association than its literal meaning, which is
known as denotation. For example, blue is a color, but it is also a word used to describe a feeling of
sadness, as in: “She's feeling blue.” Connotations can be either positive, negative, or neutral.
riters often use different connotations to inject multiple layers of meaning into a word, phrase, or
passage. Take this sentence, for example: “The dog is thin.” It has neutral connotations because it is
simply a statement of fact. However, the same sentence rewritten as “The dog is emaciated” has
negative connotations: the word “emaciated” implies the dog has a neglectful owner.

Types of Connotation in Writing

Writers often use connotation to create emotional associations that can be either positive, negative,
or neutral.

Positive connotation. Words that conjure a favorable emotional response. For example, describing
someone ambitious as a “go-getter” or someone who is lively and curious as “youthful.”

Negative connotation. When a negative connotation is made, it presents the person or thing in an
unfavorable light. Using the examples above, the same ambitious person might be described as an
“overachiever,” while the curious person might be referred to as “childish.”

Neutral connotation. This is when a word says what it means with a neutral point of view, and no
attached positive or negative connotation. The statement, “He is ambitious” suggests a person works
hard and strives to achieve, without judgment on whether the ambition is a good or a bad thing.

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

War is peace.

Freedom is slavery.

Ignorance is strength.

Positive: My new neighbor is a mature woman.

Negative: My new neighbor is an elderly woman.

Mood in writing

Tone in writing
Denotation

Noun phrases

Verb phrases

Dominant impression

Participial phrases

Word choice

Gerund phrases

Point of view

Agreement

Paragraph

Thesis

The noun thesis has more than one important sense to it. One definition of thesis is that it is the
most important or foundational idea of an argument, presentation, or piece of writing. But it can
also mean a large work of art, criticism, or scientific research that represents original research and is
generally the final requirement for an academic degree. a treatise advancing a new point of view
resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree, an unproved
statement put forward as a premise in an argument
Controlling idea

Reading-based writing approaches

Traits

Descriptive writing

Six traits of writing

Verb

Features

Subject

Writing process
Thesis Statement Examples

A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of a research paper or essay, such
as an expository essay or argumentative essay. It makes a claim, directly answering a question.

As you can see in the thesis statement examples below, you must be very specific, summarizing
points that are about to be made in your paper, and supported by specific evidence. Generally, your
thesis statement can be the last line of the first paragraph in your research paper or essay.

Thesis Statement: Bad vs. Good

It's worth reiterating that a strong thesis statement is specific. If you find yourself using general
words like "good," then you're not digging deep enough.

For example, saying "European travel is a good way to spend your summer," is not specific enough.
Why is European travel good? Further examine the heart of your topic and focus on very specific
areas of European travel that you can realistically cover and support with solid evidence.

"Solo European travel requires independence which, in the end, bolsters personal confidence." This
is much more specific and targeted. Now, you can hone in your research on solo travel through
Europe, the need for independence, and its positive effect on personal confidence.

Here are six more thesis statement examples for you to consider:

Bad: Everyone should exercise.

- Why should I? What's in it for me?

Good: Americans should add exercise to their daily morning routine because it not only keeps
their bodies at a healthy weight but also reduces the risk of high blood pressure.

- Here, we've made several specifications i.e. Americans (not everyone), the morning routine (not
the evening), weight maintenance, and high blood pressure prevention. Your research actually
becomes easier when you have very specific objectives.

Bad: High levels of alcohol consumption are bad for you.

- This is too broad. What are the specific detriments of alcohol consumption that you would like to
discuss?

Good: High levels of alcohol consumption have detrimental effects on your personal health, such
as weight gain, heart disease, and liver complications.
 - Notice we got very specific in our reasons why. In your thesis statement, you don't need to state
every single detriment you're going to lay out (in fact, you shouldn't as it will risk becoming a run-on
sentence) but you can point to the main areas you will explore.

Bad: Reading can develop a child's analytical mind.

- Words like "can," aren't strong enough. This thesis statement begs the question of how? If you're
about to write several paragraphs (or pages) about a topic make sure you can confidently defend
every point you make.

Good: Reading develops a child's mind by fostering comprehension skills, increasing vocabulary,
and exposing them to new worlds they might not otherwise encounter.

- Now, we've not just stated that reading is good, we've provided a sampling of all the benefits
we're about to bring to light in our paper.

Bad: All retirees should relocate to Florida.

- Your research paper or essay will need to delve into numerous supporting claims. This broad
thesis statement runs the risk of allowing you to go off on several tangents.

Good: Retirees should relocate to Florida, where 75% of Americans choose to settle, because you
will afford yourself the opportunity to develop a wide array of friendships.

- From here, you can introduce a paragraph on the importance of friendship and then cite studies
or testimonials describing how people can discover these important new relationships.

Bad: The internet has improved the lives of many.

- Again, while readers may agree with this and your statement may be true, how has the internet
improved people's lives? Also, you should run your thesis statement past the "What's in it for me?"
test. Why should readers care?

Good: The internet serves as a means of expediently connecting people across the globe, fostering
new friendships and an exchange of ideas that wouldn't have occurred prior to its inception.

- While the internet offers a host of benefits, we're choosing to hone in on its ability to foster new
friendships and exchange ideas. We'd also have to prove how this couldn't have happened prior to
the internet's inception - and that is good. The tighter your focus, the better your paper.

Bad: Organ donors should be financially compensated.

- Why? What happens to them that causes you to take this stance?

Good: Given the grueling surgery and lifelong changes they endure, kidney donors should be
financially compensated for their act of self-sacrifice.
 - There are many forms of living organ donation. As with any good thesis, you want to get as
specific as possible. Now, our stance is clear and the reader will understand that we're about to
describe the grueling process of kidney donation as well as any forthcoming lifestyle changes.

Finding Your Point of View

A good thesis statement is developed from the point of view of the reader. Be very careful you're
not developing a topic that is of interest to you alone. This is a harsh yet necessary question to ask
yourself: will my readers have any reason to care about what I'm writing?

In the example about European travel above, readers might be interested in travel around Europe
but will they be interested in solo travel, and greater independence and confidence? Hopefully, the
answer is yes. Just make sure you examine all viewpoints before investing your valuable time in a
well-written piece.

A thesis statement is powerful on two fronts. First, it allows the reader to get excited about what,
specifically, is coming their way. Second, it stands as the point of reference for your entire paper.

Think of it as a loving mother steering her children away from danger. Essay writers run the risk of
getting off track and wandering into thickly wooded forests of needless tangents. (This is also why a
well-planned outline is essential.) However, a solid thesis statement will help keep you in check.
Refer back to it and ask have you wandered off topic?

Always Be Specific

When searching for a new home, realtors will tell you there are three important factors: location,
location, and location. When developing your one-sentence thesis statement, it is important for you
to be: specific, specific, specific. Write your thesis statement once and then rewrite it again with
greater specificity.

Also, make sure your audience will want to learn these new facts and possibly embrace these new
opinions. Now, you have a compass for your entire paper, keeping you safely on course.
What is a Paragraph? Definition, Examples of Paragraphs

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is a Paragraph? Definition, Examples of Paragraphs

Paragraph definition: A paragraph is a unit of writing in a larger body of work. A paragraph expresses
a particular topic or theme.

What is a Paragraph?

A paragraph is a component of fictional prose and non-fiction writings.

When writing essays, research papers, books, etc., new paragraphs are indented to show their
beginnings. Each new paragraph begins with a new indentation.

The purpose of a paragraph is to express a speaker’s thoughts on a particular point in a clear way
that is unique and specific to that paragraph. In other words, paragraphs shouldn’t be mixing
thoughts or ideas. When a new idea is introduced, generally, a writer will introduce a new
paragraph.

Basic Paragraph Structure: How to Layout a Paragraph

In non-fiction writing, a body paragraph is any paragraph that comes between the introduction and
the conclusion.

A good body paragraph will have the following:

Topic Sentence

define paragraph writing What is a topic sentence? A topic sentence is the first sentence of the body
paragraph. Simply put, the topic sentence introduces the topic of the paragraph. A good topic
sentence will be broad enough to allow for explication but narrow enough that it does not require a
paragraph that is too long.

Supporting Sentences
What is a supporting sentence? The supporting sentences of a paragraph are the sentences between
the topic sentence and the concluding sentence. The supporting sentences “support” the topic
sentence. That is, they explain and elaborate the point of the paragraph.

Concluding Sentence

what is a conclusion paragraph What is a concluding sentence? The concluding sentence is the last
sentence in the paragraph. It should succinctly end the paragraph and transition to the next
paragraph, if appropriate.

Other Features of Paragraphs

A good paragraph contains many elements. Here are just a few of them.

Unity, Coherence

what is an introduction paragraph As mentioned above, the ideas in a paragraph should logically fit
together. Furthermore, they should flow from one idea to the next.

A paragraph should be organized in a way that it builds appropriately. This could be by sequence of
ideas or events. Additionally, transitions should be used from one sentence to the next that connect
the ideas and concepts.

Adequate Development

In order for a paragraph to be considered “adequate” or “sufficient,” the paragraph should be well-
developed. The reader should not be left wanting more information.

Similarly, the paragraph should include enough evidence to support its topic sentence.

Transitions

what is the purpose of a conclusion paragraph Good paragraphs have transitions between preceding
and proceeding paragraphs. These transitions are logical and verbal.

One paragraph should logically flow to the next. The ideas in a body of work should be organized so
each paragraph transitions well to the next. It should not be choppy.

Additionally, verbal transitions within and between paragraphs should help the reader move
seamlessly through the piece of writing.
How Long is a Paragraph?

how long should a paragraph be There is no set length to a paragraph. Some paragraphs are only
one sentence in length. However, a short paragraph like that should be left only to the expert writer
—or a specific style of writing. You wouldn’t find a single-sentence paragraph in a research paper or
academic journal.

Paragraphs need to be long enough to express any given idea (long enough to thoroughly explain the
topic sentence).

Research papers may call for paragraphs ten sentences or longer.

The overall topic of the writing and content will determine the length of a paragraph. Unfortunately,
there is no single number of sentences to a good paragraph.

A general rule of thumb is to begin with a topic sentence; develop that topic well with evidence,
examples, and explanations; and conclude the paragraph appropriately.

Summary: What are Paragraphs?

Define paragraph: the definition of paragraph is a group of sentence in which a single topic is
developed.

In summary, a paragraph is:

a unit of writing

used in non-fiction and fictional prose

a part of writing that expresses a certain topic

In grammar, agreement is the correspondence of a verb with its subject in person and number,
and of a pronoun with its antecedent in person, number, and gender. Another term for grammatical
agreement is concord.

Basic Principles

"In English, agreement is relatively limited. It occurs between the subject of a clause and a present
tense verb, so that, for instance, with a third-person singular subject (e.g. John), the verb must have
the -s suffix ending. That is, the verb agrees with its subject by having the appropriate ending. Thus,
John drinks a lot is grammatical, but John drink a lot isn't grammatical as a sentence on its own,
because the verb doesn't agree.

"Agreement also occurs in English between demonstratives and nouns. A demonstrative has to agree
in number with its noun. So with a plural noun such as books, you have to use a plural these or
those, giving these books or those books. With a singular noun, such as book, you use a singular this
or that, giving this book or that book. This books or those book would be ungrammatical because the
demonstrative doesn't agree with the noun."

–Jame R. Hurford, Grammar: A Student's Guide. Cambridge University Press, 1994

Keeping Track of Details

"Agreement is an important process in many languages, but in modern English it is superfluous, a

remnant of a richer system that flourished in Old English. If it were to disappear entirely, we would
not miss it, any more than we miss the similar -est suffix in Thou sayest. But psychologically
speaking, this frill does not come cheap. Any speaker committed to using it has to keep track of four
details in every sentence uttered: And all this work is needed just to use the suffix once one has
learned it."

–Steven Pinker, The Language Instinct. William Morrow, 1994

whether the subject is in the third person or not: He walks versus I walk.

whether the subject is singular or plural: He walks versus They walk.

whether the action is present tense or not: He walks versus He walked.

whether the action is habitual or going on at the moment of speaking (its "aspect"): He walks to
school versus He is walking to school.

Tricky Nouns
"Some nouns are commonly used with singular verbs although plural in form: Some nouns are
commonly plural in usage, even though naming something singular."

–Patricia Osborn, How Grammar Works. John Wiley, 1989

news, politics, economics, athletics, molasses

nouns that state a given time, weight, or amount of energy

titles of books, newspapers, television shows, even of plural form

His trousers were old and torn.

The suds are almost down the drain.

Scissors are a great invention.

The contents were ruined."

Examples

Many dogs are made anxious by loud noises.

An anxious dog is not able to focus and maintain attention.

Dogs and cats are the most common pets.

A dog and a cat are in our house.

Usually, either the dog or the cat is in my room.

Abandoning a dog or a cat is grossly irresponsible.

Examples and Observations

Bill Bryson

"The manager was one of those people who are so permanently and comprehensively stressed that
even their hair and clothes appear to be at their wit's end."

–The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Broadway Books, 2006

James Van Fleet

"I have read statistics that show only five out of every 100 people become financially successful. By
the retirement age of 65, only one of these people is truly wealthy."

–Hidden Power. Prentice-Hall, 1987

Maxine Hong Kingston

"She brought back another woman, who wore a similar uniform except that it was pink trimmed in
white. This woman's hair was gathered up into a bunch of curls at the back of her head; some of the
curls were fake."

–The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts. Alfred A. Knopf, 1976

Bell Hooks

"Feminist activists must emphasize the forms of power these women exercise and show ways they
can be used for their benefit."

–Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, 2nd ed. Pluto Press, 2000

Agreement in Radio

TR: I don't know. Understanding guys don't mean you should live with them.

SS: Lester...

TR: What?

SS: Understanding guys doesn't mean you should live with them.

TR: That's what I said.

SS: Lester, subjects, and verbs have to be in agreement. The subject of that sentence is not guys, it's
understanding, and understanding, which is a gerund, by the way, is singular and it takes a singular
verb.TR: I got no idea what you're talking about.

–Tom Keith and Sue Scott in "English Majors." A Prairie Home Companion, May 18, 2002
Point of View Definition

What is point of view? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Point of view refers to the perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the
story. The three primary points of view are first person, in which the narrator tells a story from their
own perspective ("I went to the store"); second person, in which the narrator tells a story about you,
the reader or viewer ("You went to the store"); and third person, in which the narrator tells a story
about other people ("He went to the store"). Each point of view creates a different experience for
the reader, because, in each point of view, different types and amounts of information are available
to the reader about the story's events and characters.

Some additional key details about point of view:

Each different point of view has its own specific qualities that influence the narrative. It's up to the
author to choose which point of view is best for narrating the story he or she is writing.

Second person point of view is extremely rare in literature. The vast majority of stories are written
in either the first or third person.

You may hear "point of view" referred to simply as "perspective." This isn't wrong, it's just another
way of referring to the same thing.

The Three "Modes" of Point of View

Stories can be told from one of three main points of view: first person, second person, or third
person. Each of the different modes offers an author particular options and benefits, and the point
of view that an author chooses will have a tremendous impact on the way that a reader engages
with a story.

First Person Point of View

In first person point of view, the narrator tells the story from his or her own perspective. You can
easily recognize first person by its use of the pronouns "I" or "We." First person offers the author a
great way to give the reader direct access to a particular character's thoughts, emotions, voice, and
way of seeing the world—their point of view about the main events of the story. The choice of which
character gets to have first person point of view can dramatically change a story, as shown in this
simple scenario of a thief snatching a lady's purse
 Thief's POV: "I was desperate for something to eat. Judging by her expensive-looking shoes, I
figured she could afford to part with her purse."

Victim's POV: "He came out of nowhere! Too bad for him, though: I only had five dollars in my
bag."

Consider also one of the most famous examples of first person point of view, the very first line of
Herman Melville's Moby-Dick:

Call me Ishmael.

Melville uses first person here because he wants to establish a confessional tone for the protagonist.
He wants the reader to feel like Ishmael has just sat down next to him on a bar stool, and is about to
tell him his life's story. Only first person can have this colloquial and intimate effect. Saying, "His
name was Ishmael," for instance, would insert more distance between the reader and the character
Ishmael, because the third person narrator would sit between the reader and Ishmael. First person,
in this way, can have the effect of connecting the reader directly with the story.

First Person Point of View and the Protagonist

In a story told in the first person, the character who acts as narrator will often also be the
protagonist of the story. However, some stories told from the first person do not make the narrator
the protagonist:

First person in which the narrator is the protagonist: In The Catcher in the Rye, the first person
narrator Holden Caulfield is the clear protagonist of the story. His voice dominates the story, and the
story he tells is his own.

First person in which the narrator is not the protagonist: The novel The Great Gatsby is narrated
by Nick Carraway, but the protagonist of the novel is Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway tells the story, and
the reader is limited to understanding the story through what Nick himself sees, knows, and thinks,
but nevertheless the story that Nick tells is not his own but rather Gatsby's.

Second Person Point of View

Second person point of view uses the pronoun "you" to immerse the reader in the experience of
being the protagonist. It's important to remember that second person point of view is different from
simply addressing the reader. Rather, the second person point of view places the reader "on the
playing field" by putting them in the position of the protagonist—the one to whom the action
occurs. Few stories are appropriate for such a perspective, but occasionally it is quite successful, as
in Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City, a novel in which the reader is taken on a wild night through
Manhattan.

Eventually you ascend the stairs to the street. You think of Plato's pilgrims climbing out of the
cave, from the shadow world of appearances toward things as they really are, and you wonder if it is
possible to change in this life. Being with a philosopher makes you think.

Of the three points of view, second person is the most rarely used, primarily because it doesn't allow
the narrator as much freedom as first person and third person, so it's hard to sustain this style of
narration for very long.

Third Person Point of View

In third person point of view, the narrator is someone (or some entity) who is not a character in the
story being told. Third person point of view uses the pronouns "he," "she," and "they," to refer to all
the characters. It is the most common point of view in writing, as it gives the writer a considerable
amount of freedom to focus on different people, events, and places without being limited within the
consciousness of a single character. Below is an example of dialogue written in third person by
Joseph Heller in his novel Catch-22:

"What are you doing?" Yossarian asked guardedly when he entered the tent, although he saw at
once.

"There's a leak here," Orr said. "I'm trying to fix it."

"Please stop it," said Yossarian. "You're making me nervous."

The exchange above is narrated by a narrator who is outside the interaction between Yossarian and
Orr; such distance is the hallmark of third person point of view.

Third Person and Degree of Distance

The third person mode is unique from first and second person in another way as well: third person
has different variants. These variants depend on how far removed the narrator is from the events of
the story, and how much the narrator knows about each character:

Third Person Omniscient Point of View: "Third person omniscient" means that the narrator knows
all the thoughts and feelings of every character and can dip in and out of the the internal life of
anyone, as needed. Omniscient just means "all-knowing." This type of narrator is more god-like than
human, in the sense that their perspective is unlimited.

Third Person Limited Point of View: In this type of narration, the narrator does not have an
omniscient, unlimited perspective. They may have access to the thoughts and feelings of one
character, or none at all:

A story like Young Goodman Brown, which follows one character closely and reports on that
character's thoughts and feelings (but not the thoughts and feelings of others), is an example of
third person limited point of view. This type of story gives the reader the feeling that they are inside
one person's head without using first person pronouns like "I."

Alternating Point of View

Many stories are told from alternating points of view—switching between different characters, or
even between different modes of storytelling.

Stories can switch between third person points of view: Many novels switch between different
third person points of view. For instance, the chapters of George R.R. Martin's The Song of Ice and
Fire books are all named after characters, and each chapter is told from the limited third person
point of view of the named character.

Stories can switch between first person points of view: William Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying is
structurally similar to the Song of Ice and Fire books in the sense that each chapter is named after a
character. However, each chapter is told in the first person by the named character. The Darl
chapters are told in the first person by Darl, the Cash chapter are narrated by Cash, the Vardamon
chapters by Vardamon, and so on.

Stories can even switch between modes of storytelling: Though less common than other sorts of
alternating points of view, some stories can shift not only between different character's points of
view, but between actual modes of storytelling. For example, Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury has
four parts. The first three parts are all narrated in the first person, with the first part narrated by
Benjy, the second part by Quentin, and the third part by Jason. But the fourth part is told in the third
person omniscient and follows a bunch of different characters at different times.

Point of View Examples

Every work of literature has a point of view, and so there are essentially endless examples of point of
view in literature. The examples below were chosen because they are good examples of the
different modes, and in the case of The Metamorphosis the the subtle shift in the nature of the
narrator's point of view also shows how an author can play with point of view to suit the themes and
ideas of a story.

Third Person Point of View in Kafka's Metamorphosis

A great example of third person point of view in literature is the first line from Kafka's The
Metamorphosis.

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his
bed into a gigantic insect.

For the remainder of the book, Kafka follows the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, in a limited third
person point of view as he struggles to come to terms with his sudden transformation into an insect.
For as long as Gregor remains alive, the third person narrator remains limited by Gregor's own
consciousness—the story is told in the third person, but the narrator never knows or sees any more
than Gregor himself does.

However, in the few pages of the story that continue after Gregor dies, the narrator shifts into a
third person omniscient point of view, almost as if Gregor's death has freed the narrator in a way not
so dissimilar to how his death tragically relieves a burden on his family.

Point of View in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is a great example of the omniscient third person point of view. In the
novel, the narrator sees and knows all, and moves around between the lives of the different
characters, dipping into their internal lives and thoughts, and commenting on the narrative as a
whole. In Part 5, Chapter 6, the internal lives of two characters are commented on at once, in the
moment of their marriage to one another:

Often and much as they had both heard about the belief that whoever is first to step on the rug
will be the head in the family, neither Levin nor Kitty could recall it as they made those few steps.
Nor did they hear the loud remarks and disputes that, in the observation of some, he had been the
first, or, in the opinion of others, they had stepped on it together.

Point of View in Thoreau's Walden

Henry David Thoreau's transcendental meditations on isolation were based on his actual lived
experience. It makes sense, then, that Walden (his account of time spent alone in the woods) is
written in the first person point of view:

When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile
away from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in
Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. I lived there two years
and two months. At present I am a sojourner in civilized life again.

What's the Function of Point of View in Literature?

Point of view is the means by which an author relays either one or a multiplicity of perspectives
about the events of their story. It is the lens crafted by the writer that allows the reader to see a
story or argument unfold. Depending on how much information the writer wants to give the reader,
this lens will be constructed differently—or in other words, a different mode of point of view will be
chosen:

If the writer wants the reader to have full access to a particular character's internal life, then they
might choose either first person or a closely limited third person point of view.

If the writer wants the reader to know select bits and pieces about every character, they might
choose an omniscient third person point of view.

If the writer wants the reader to know about the rich internal lives of multiple characters, they
might choose an alternating first person point of view.

Lastly, if the writer wants the reader to feel like they themselves are in the center of the action,
they might choose a second person point of view.

Other Helpful Point of View Resources

The Wikipedia Page on Point of View: An overview of narration with a focus on literary point of
view.

The Dictionary Definition of Point of View: A very basic definition of the term point of view.

Examples of Second Person: A page with some examples of writing in the less common second
person point of view.
Gerund Phrase
gerund

What is a Gerund Phrase?

A gerund phrase is created when a gerund – a verb that takes an –ing form and functions as a noun –
has a modifier, object or both. That sounds quite technical, so let’s break it down for a simple
explanation of a gerund phrase:

First, here is an example of a gerund phrase in a sentence

Eating a slice of pie quickly is a recipe for disaster.

So, we can breakdown the gerund phrase like so:

The gerund in the sentence is eating. (Remember, a gerund is a noun that is formed by adding the
-ing suffix to a verb.)

The Gerund phrase object in the sentence (the thing being acted upon, in this case by eating) is a
slice of pie.

The modifier in the sentence is quickly.

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How do you recognize a gerund phrase when you see one?

A gerund phrase will follow these rules, which can help you identify a gerund phrase in a sentence:

The phrase will always start with a gerund.

The gerund phrase will either have a modifier, an object or both.

 The entire phrase will function as a noun.

The phrase will have singular agreement with a verb.

Look at these examples with the gerund phrases used in different ways:

Reading books quietly is my favorite pastime.

My favorite pastime is reading books quietly

I recommend reading books quietly to pass the time.

Regardless of where the gerund phrase reading books quietly appears in the sentence, it satisfies the
four rules listed above. Remember that the purpose of a gerund phrase is to act like a noun, so you
can check it by replacing it with a noun and seeing if the sentence still makes grammatical sense:

Television is my favorite pastime.

My favorite pastime is television.

I recommend television to pass the time.

However, you should be careful not to confuse gerund phrases with participle phrases. The
differences are subtle, as shown below:

Drinking beer heavily is bad for your health. (gerund phrase)

Drinking beer heavily, Tom and Jim became more raucous. (not a gerund phrase)

How do we know the second example is not a gerund phrase? Well, it is not acting like a noun and
thus does not satisfy the four rules of gerund phrases. It is a participle phrase, which acts like an
adjective. We can see this by replacing the phrase with a noun and seeing that it does not make
sense:

Alcohol is bad for your health. (sentence still makes sense)

Alcohol, Tom and Jim became more raucous. (sentence no longer makes sense)

Tip: If the phrase is followed by a comma, then it is more likely to be participle phrase and not a
gerund phrase.
Gerund Phrase Examples

While the rules of gerund phrases set out earlier help us recognize them in a sentence, gerund
phrases have various uses in a sentence. They have a variety of roles in a sentence and can be acted
upon in varying ways: Sometimes the gerund phrase is the subject; sometimes it is the object or
indirect object; other times it is the object of a preposition; and finally, it can also be the predicate
nominative.

Examples of gerund phrases for each group are given below:

Subject Examples

In the following examples, the gerund phrase is acting as the subject of the sentence. The subject is
the thing or person that carries out the action of the verb.

Sleeping through the night is difficult for me.

Making noise is what happy children and almost all teenagers do best.

Watching bad television defined my teenage years.

Running with scissors on a slippery floor was a terrible idea.

Travelling across France should be a rite of passage for all writers.

Direct Object Examples

In the following examples, the gerund phrase is acting as the direct object in the sentence. The direct
object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the main verb.

I love sleeping through the night.

My parents prefer eating dinner alone.

We would not recommend travelling without insurance.

His daughter enjoys fixing broken bicycles.

Do they like swimming with dolphins?

Indirect Object Examples

In the following examples, the gerund phrase is acting as the indirect in the sentence. The indirect
object is affected by the action of the verb, but it is not its main object.

As part of her new wellness regimen, Jenny made sleeping through the night her priority.

Clinton gave running for president her best shot.

We make writing three poems a requirement to pass our course.

Men don’t always see raising children well as an accomplishment.

Why don’t you make completing a marathon your main goal?

Predicate Nominative Examples

In the following examples, the gerund phrase is acting as a predicate nominative. A predicate
nominative completes the linking verb and renames the subject. For example, in the examples below
the gerund phrases answer or define the first part of the sentence.

My biggest difficulty is sleeping through the night. (What is my biggest difficulty? It is sleeping
through the night.)

Our top priority was getting everyone on the plane.

The critical issue of his arrest wasn’t driving without a license.

Her favorite thing was listening to music.

A good career for her might be coaching soccer.

Object of a Preposition Examples

In the following examples, the gerund phrase is acting as the object of the preposition in the
sentence. The object of a preposition is simply a word or phrase that is preceded by a preposition
and completes its meaning.

The doctor suggested drinking warm milk for sleeping through the night. (For what? For sleeping
through the night.)

By crying like a baby, you won’t get anywhere in life.

Exercise is futile without eating healthily.

He wanted to learn more about riding a bike.

Detectives were relieved after finding the evidence.

Participial Phrase

1. What is a Participial Phrase?

A participial phrase is a phrase that looks like a verb, but actually functions as an adjective; it
modifies a noun in the same sentence. Phrases like this can “spice up” a noun and provide added
description about what it’s doing or what it looks like.

They’re often used in pieces that need to tell readers a lot in a few words, like newspaper articles or
even fiction books.

2. Examples of Participial Phrases

Here is a simple examples of a noun and a participial phrases (in green) in action. We really do see
them all the time, even though they sound sort of complicated.

Example 1

Fond of brushing her hair, Kelly always had smooth and silky locks.

It might look like Kelly is brushing her hair in the action of this sentence, but the beginning phrase is
actually an adjective here. It tells us something about Kelly, a noun and the subject of the sentence.
That makes “Fond of brushing her hair” a participial phrase. The participial phrase doesn’t describe
an action that’s happening currently, but it does help us understand why Kelly always has soft hair.

Example 2

The trash can sat in the corner, brimming with garbage.

Here, the phrase “brimming with garbage” tells us about the trash can, a noun. “Brimming” is a verb,
but the entire phrase acts as an adjective again. That makes “brimming with garbage” another
participial phrase!
3. Parts of a Participial Phrase

Participial phrases will always start with a participle. A participle is formed from a verb, but it acts as
a noun or an adjective. They modify other nouns in sentences, and are often parts of longer phrases
—like a participial phrase, of course!

The participle in a participial phrase can be either the present participle or the past participle.

The present participle of a verb expresses the action of a verb, specifically in the present. It will
always end in –ing, every single time.

Meanwhile, the past participle of a verb is not always as easy to pick out. They usually end in -ed,
for regular past participles. But irregular past participles are out there, ready to try and confuse you.
Don’t let them, though, because you already use most past participles without knowing that they’re
called past participles!

The best way to show you how present participles and past participles are different is to give you a
few example verbs.

Verb Infinitive Present Participle Past Participle

to smile smiling smiled

to hang hanging hung

Example 1

The woman, smiling and waving, said hello.

With the verb “to smile,” we get a present participle of smiling. “Smiling” describes the woman, so
we know more about her. That’s the present participle in action, and the past participle for smile
would be pretty similar!

Example 2

Framed and hung, the painting lit up the room.

The past participle is irregular this time, because “hung” doesn’t end in –ed like regular past
participles. Now our participial phrase is “framed and hung” and we get information about the
subject: the painting.

Picking out the participle in a participial phrase is actually pretty easy, because participles stick out
once you figure out how they work. There’s a participle in every participial phrase, so it’s important
you understand how to use them.

Example 3

Fond of brushing her hair, Kelly always had smooth and silky locks.

It might look like Kelly is brushing her hair in the action of this sentence, but the beginning phrase is
actually an adjective here. It tells us something about Kelly, a noun and the subject of the sentence.
That makes “Fond of brushing her hair” a participial phrase. The participial phrase doesn’t describe
an action that’s happening currently, but it does help us understand why Kelly always has soft hair.

a. Noun

A participial phrase sometimes uses a noun, depending on the participle. Some participles will just
make more sense with a noun. A noun is a person, place, or thing, and is usually the subject of a
sentence. Common nouns are words like dog, book, or computer. They can also be the names of
specific people or places. In some cases, like participial phrases, adding a noun can bring more detail
to a sentence.

Example 1

The phone was almost out of battery power, blinking in the dark.

The participial phrase “blinking in the dark” describes a noun, the phone. Most sentences with
participial phrases will work in similar ways, because the participial phrases will always modify the
subject of the sentence.
The participle “blinking” might make sense on its own in another sentence, but in this sentence the
noun “dark” gives us a better sense of what’s going on.

Example 2

The phone was almost out of battery power, blinking.

Now the noun “dark” is gone and we can still mostly understand what the participial phrase means,
but it’s just a bit weird. It’s not clear what’s blinking, or why it’s blinking. The participial phrase feels
incomplete without “in the dark” and we’re not getting enough information. So sometimes
participial phrases will use nouns to clear up a situation or give more detail. The nouns aren’t always
necessary, and you should be able to feel it out through context.

b. Modifier

A modifier will modify a noun, just like the name says. They can be lots of different kinds of words—
like adjectives, adverbs, or even participles—as long as they modify a noun. Modifiers add more
detail to a phrase, so they can be used in participial phrases to describe more of the situation. Check
out the example of a modifier in a participial phrase to see how they work!

Example 1

Quickly opening the bag, Carrie found her favorite notebook.

The word “quickly” tells us more about how Carrie opened the bag, and that makes it a modifier.
Meanwhile, the entire participial phrase describes how Carrie found her notebook.

Modifiers are used all the time to make a sentence more interesting and give us more information.
They’re also used in participial phrases, like in the example sentence, to describe the action of the
phrase. Modifiers can add a lot of fun to a sentence or a phrase, so use them right and you can have
fascinating sentences!

4. How to Avoid Mistakes When Writing Participial Phrases

First, your participial phrase will need to use a participle, in past or present form. Make sure you
have the right form if you’re using an irregular past participle! Also, remember that a participial
phrase describes a subject (usually a noun!) but isn’t part of the main clause of a sentence. The main
clause of the sentence describes the action going on. If you take out the participial phrase, the main
clause should still be a complete sentence.

Here’s what you shouldn’t do with your participial phrases.

a. Don’t Forget Punctuation

When you start a sentence with a participial phrase, you’ll need to use commas to set it apart from
the main clause. But when your participial phrase describes the word right in front of it, you don’t
need the commas.

Example 1

Pouring a glass of milk Amanda concentrated.

This sentence doesn’t make much sense, does it? It sounds like half of a sentence! Instead of a glass
a milk, it seems like someone is pouring a glass of something called “milk Amanda concentrated.”

Here’s how it should look with a comma.

Example 2

Pouring a glass of milk, Amanda concentrated.

Now the participial phrase “pouring a glass of milk” is set apart from the rest of a sentence with a
comma, and it makes much more sense. It is describing Amanda (the noun) as she concentrates.

b. Avoid Dangling Modifiers

You should also watch out for what’s called a dangling modifier. This happens when a participial
phrase is put in the wrong place, and that makes it seem like they’re describing the wrong noun or
subject in a sentence. This can confuse people, but it can also create some pretty funny
misunderstandings and the sentence doesn’t make logical sense. Here is an example of a misplaced
participial phrase and how to correct it.
Example 1

The cup of water spilled everywhere and Connor walked over to clean it up, dripping over the
sides of the table.

The participial phrase “dripping over the sides of the table” is stuck in the wrong place here. Now it
looks like Connor is dripping off the table instead of the water! Both the cup of water and Connor
are nouns, but the participial phrase can only modify one of them. It should be put closer to its noun
so that the sentence makes more sense. Here’s what it should look like.

Example 2

The cup of water spilled everywhere, dripping over the sides of the table, and Connor walked over
to clean it up.

Now we can clearly see that the water is what’s dripping, not Connor. It’s important to link your
participial phrase to the right noun, so that your sentences don’t get too hard to understand.

c. Avoid Confusing Gerunds With Participial Phrases

A gerund looks like a participial phrase, but it actually does something different when it’s used in a
sentence. Gerunds are verb phrases that act as nouns, but participial phrases act as adjectives. Here
are some sentences with gerunds and participial phrases so you can learn to tell them apart.

Example 1

Turning the light on is a necessity at night.

In this sentence, “turning the light on” is a gerund. We can tell this is a gerund because the phrase
acts as a noun in the sentence. The rest of the sentence describes the gerund, by saying that it’s “a
necessity at night.” So gerunds might look just like participial phrases, but make sure you figure out
what the phrase is doing before you decide what it is.

Example 2

Turning the light on, Haley walks into the room.

Now the same phrase is a participial phrase! It’s set off from the main clause of the sentence “Haley
walks into the room” with a comma. Also, if we take out the participial phrase, the sentence still
makes sense. The phrase “turning the light on” describes Haley, instead of being described like a
gerund would.

Gerunds and participial phrases can sometimes be the exact same words, but they have very
different functions. Avoid confusing them by checking for signs that a phrase is a gerund or a
participial phrase.

Look for commas that set the phrase apart from the sentence. They can be small clues that you’re
looking at a participial phrase.

Make sure to read over the sentence to see how the phrase acts within the entire sentence. Is it a
noun or the subject of the sentence? Or is it describing the noun/subject?

If you can take the phrase out and still have a complete sentence, you’re probably dealing with a
participial phrase.
Verb Phrase Examples

A verb phrase is the portion of a sentence that contains both the verb and either a direct or indirect
object (the verb's dependents). We're going to take a look at what verb phrases are, and then view
some verb phrase examples.

Verb Phrases

Verbs are words that demonstrate an action, like sing, dance, smell, talk, and eat. They serve as a
link between the subject of the verb and information about that subject. The information is usually
descriptive.

In order to show activities that can be done, active verbs are used, while linking verbs describe
conditions.

She smells the pizza. (active) The wet dog smells awful. (linking)

He appears on screen as an actor. (active) Tony appears angry. (linking)

Verb phrases take the verb one step further by comprising the verb, plus the complement, object, or
adverb. Verb phrases, such as "She was walking quickly to the mall" comprise the verb (walking) and
the complement (to the mall).

To learn more about verb phrases see Verb Phrase.

Verb Phrase Examples

A verb phrase can be the predicate of the clause or sentence. A verb phrase can also be a phrase
that functions as an adverb or adjective and contains a verb and its complements, objects, or
modifiers.

Phrase Is the Predicate of the Sentence

Following are some verb phrase examples where the verb phrase is the predicate of a sentence. In
this case, the verb phrase consists of the main verb plus any auxiliary, or helping, verbs.
 She was walking quickly to the mall.

He should wait before going swimming.

Those girls are not trying very hard.

Ted might eat the cake.

You must go right now.

You can't eat that!

My mother is fixing us some dinner.

Words were spoken.

These cards may be worth hundreds of dollars!

The teacher is writing a report.

You have woken up everyone in the neighborhood.

Phrase Functions as an Adverb or Adjective

Some verb phrases have a single function which means it can act like an adverb or an adjective.
The phrase would include the verb and any modifiers, complements, or objects.

Texting on his phone, the man swerved into a ditch.

As the cat watched, the two puppies fought over a bone.

 The small dog was reluctant to learn new things.

When he arrives, we can try to build a fort.

Finally, we can afford to buy a new house.

Walking on the ice, she slipped and fell.

Open the door to let the fresh air in.

To make lemonade, you first need some lemons.

It takes two people to tango.

All of these different verb phrases demonstrate how the dependents of the verb provide
important useful information for the reader about the action in the sentence. Verb phrases help to
make your text more informative and meaningful and they are essential to clear writing.

Verb Phrase

If you want to understand what a verb phrase is, you need to understand verbs and phrases first.
Phrases will be explained, as well as sentence structure, and examples will be offered for all of them.

Defining a Verb Phrase

A verb phrase can be the predicate of a sentence or a clause. In this case, there will usually be a
helping verb in addition to the verb. Here are some examples of a verb phrase as a predicate:

The author is writing a new book.

I must make an "A" in this class.

The dog might eat the cake.

 He was walking to work today.

We grew apart after high school.

A verb phrase can also be a phrase that functions as an adverb or adjective that has a verb and its
complements, objects, or modifiers. Some examples are:

Running on the wet floor, she slipped and broke her arm.

Fill up the gas tank to help it run better.

To bake a cake, you need flour and sugar.

Finally, I have saved enough to buy a car.

Defining a Sentence

A sentence is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate, which is a verb or verb phrase. It
expresses a complete thought; so therefore, it is called an independent clause.

The subject is the star of the sentence, what or who the sentence is about. It can be a noun or a
pronoun.

The predicate is the action, or what the subject is doing. It can also tell the subject's state of being.
It contains a verb, verb phrase, or linking verb. Simple sentence examples are: Sally ran. Jose slept.

Most verbs show action, like run, taste, fly, jump, crawl, or hit. Verbs link a word to the subject and
are called linking verbs. These do not refer to an action, they express a state of being. For example:
am, are, was, were, has been, etc. Other linking verbs are: seem, appear, become, taste, stay, and
feel.

Some verbs can pull double duty, and be active or linking depending on their use. Here is an
example:
 Active - Would you like to stay the night? Linking - I want you to stay sweet forever.

Active - I can taste the salt in this. Linking - This tastes gross.

Defining a Phrase

A phrase is a group of words that have a function in a sentence, but do not have a subject and verb.
If it had a subject and a verb, it would be a clause.

Phrases can function in the sentence like nouns, adverbs, or adjectives.

Four of the main kinds of phrases are infinitive, participle, prepositional, and gerund. Here are
definitions and examples.

Infinitive: These phrases start with an infinitive plus a simple form of a verb. They can act like a
noun, adjective, or adverb. Here is an example: She wanted to show off her new dress. The whole
phrase is what she wanted, so it is acting like a noun.

Participle - This phrase will act as an adjective and begins with a participle. A participle is an
adjective that has been made from a verb, like talked or swimming. Here's an example: We have to
replace the window broken by the hail. The phrase modifies the noun "window", so it is functioning
like an adjective.

Prepositional - These phrases start with a preposition and have an object of that preposition. They
function as adjectives or adverbs. Example: The plane will fly over the clouds. The phrase tells where
the plane will fly, so it is acting like an adverb.

Gerund - These phrases act like a noun and start with a verb ending with an "ing". They can be
subjects or objects. An example is: Lying to the IRS is never a good idea. The phrase acts as the
subject in this sentence.
Noun Phrase Examples

Noun phrases are simply nouns with modifiers. Just as nouns can act as subjects, objects, and
prepositional objects, so can noun phrases. Similarly, noun phrases can also work in a sentence as
adjectives, participles, infinitives, and prepositional or absolute phrases.

The modifier can come before or after the noun. If it comes before the noun it's likely to be an
article, possessive noun, possessive pronoun, adjective, or participle. Modifiers that come after the
noun include prepositional phrases, adjective clauses, participle phrases, and infinitives.

The best way to clear all that up is to explore some examples of noun phrases in action:

The spotted puppy is up for adoption.

(Noun phrase as a subject)

The bohemian house was brightly decorated for the holidays.

(Noun phrase as a subject)

At the zoo, I saw a striped zebra.

(Noun phrase as an object to the verb "saw")

I want a cute puppy for Christmas.

(Noun phrase as an object to the verb "want")

Mary lives in an eclectic household.

(Noun phrase as a prepositional object; preposition = "in")

Jose drives to an awful job every morning.

(Noun phrase as a prepositional object; preposition = "to")

The car wash was out of order.

 (Noun phrase with "car" acting as an adjective for the noun "wash")

The Delta Airlines flight to New York is ready to board.

(Noun phrase with "Delta Airlines" acting as an adjective for the noun "flight")

She kindly offered water to the gardener working in the hot sun.

(Noun phrase as a participle)

Having been a police officer, he knew how to defend himself.

(Noun phrase as a participle)

The ability to give to others is an important character trait.

(Noun phrase as a "to-infinitive")

Our decision to get married was celebrated by all our friends.

(Noun phrase as a "to-infinitive")

She crawled through the dark and musty attic.

(Noun phrase as a prepositional phrase; preposition = "through")

He had to sit beside the horribly angry girl.

(Noun phrase as a prepositional phrase; preposition = "beside")

Her face red with embarrassment, she took her seat beside the man she had tripped.

(Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to the subject "she")

They walked into the sunset, their laughter carrying on the breeze.

(Noun phrase as an absolute phrase to the subject "they")

Nouns and Their Functions

Nouns name persons, places, things, or ideas. Since there are so many of them, they can be grouped
into many different categories. Some of the different types of nouns include:

Common nouns refer to ordinary persons, places, things, or ideas, like "car."

Proper nouns refer to a specific persons, places, things, or ideas, like "Mercedes Benz."

Concrete nouns can be experienced through your senses, like "flower."

Abstract nouns cannot be experienced through the senses, like "love."

Countable nouns can be counted, like "cars."

Uncountable noun and mass nouns cannot be counted, like "air."

Collective nouns name a group of things or people, like "flock."

Nouns generally function in sentences as subjects and objects. However, they can also modify other
words by being possessive or an appositive. An example of a possessive noun would be the "boss's
car," meaning the car that belongs to the boss. An example of an appositive noun would be "my
brother, the human garbage disposal unit."

Sometimes, nouns can also act like an adjective, as in "water heater" where "water" modifies
"heater." They can also function as an adverb, as in "she went home" where "home" indicates where
she went.

Forming Fuller Ideas

No matter their form or function, noun phrases form fuller ideas. Instead of just talking about a dog,
you can add an adjective to that noun and discuss a spotted dog. Instead of just saying they walked
into the sunset, you can describe the scene with his laughter ringing through the air. You'll find many
writers like to make use of noun phrases. It allows them to paint pictures, including a red-faced
woman who found herself in an uncomfortable position.
Given the English language's complex beauty, you may not be surprised to learn there are other
types of phrases, including verb phrases and gerund phrases. Investigate phrase examples to learn
more about building illustrative sentences that will stick in your readers' minds forev
Denotation Examples and Meaning

Denotation is the act of using a word or symbol to signify an explicit meaning or set of meanings. The
particular meaning of a word or symbol is its denotation. Get a denotation literary definition along
with several examples of denotation in literature, denotation symbols, and other fun denotations
like friendship and zodiac signs.

Girl with blue painted face.

Denotation: Literary Definition

The most common type of denotation that you’ll come across is in literature. Denotation means the
literary definition of a word. To give an example, the denotation for “blue” is the color blue.

For example:

The girl was blue.

You mean the girl was quite literally the color blue.

You are a dog.

You mean that the animal is literally a carnivorous domesticated animal with fur and a snout.

Denotation is the literal meaning of the word. It can easily get confused with connotation. Therefore,
it is important to look at connotation vs. denotation.

Denotation vs. Connotation

While denotation is the literal meaning of the word, connotation is a feeling or indirect meaning. For
example:

Denotation: blue (color blue)

Connotation: blue (feeling sad)

Depending on whether you are using connotation or denotation, the sentence “She was blue” could
mean she was literally blue or she was sad.

Here’s another example to really drive this home.

Denotation: dog (animal)

Connotation: dog (ugly)

Again the sentence, “You are a dog” could have two different meanings. You are saying they are an
animal or ugly.

Knowing whether a writer is using connotation or denotation depends on the text surrounding the
passage. Let’s check out a few literary examples.

Denotation in Literature

From poets to novelists, denotation is used all over the literary world. Explore a few different
examples.

I Wandered as a Cloud by William Wordsworth

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

In his passage, Wordsworth means actual flowers when he talks about “golden daffodils” as in
flowers. Additionally, the phrase “beside the lake, beneath the trees” are taken by their denotative
meanings.

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee
 I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a
gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it
through no matter what.

In this passage from To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus means courage in the literal sense. The author is
using denotation to find courage as “strength or bravery in the face of adversity or pain”.

Other Examples of Denotation

There are other literal meanings of words or phrases that can be denotations. Explore a few fun
examples.

Denotation Symbol Examples

Symbols have important denotations or literary meanings. Check out common examples.

! - exclamation point

. - period

" " - quotation

@ - at

# - number

( ) - parenthesis

& - ampersand

% - percent

$ - dollar sign
 ' - apostrophe

: - colon

; - semicolon

? - question mark

Examples of Denotation Symbols in Math

When it comes to math symbols, these are a few denotations that you should know.

+ is plus

- is minus

/ is divide

x is multiply

= is equals

< is less than

> is more than

{ } is a set

Denotation on Totem Poles

Here are examples of denotation on totem poles used by various Native American peoples:

Bear - Teaches people to fish and pick berries

Eagle - Rules the sky and can transform into a human

Frog - Brings wealth

Killer Whale - Honored as being strong and brave

Otter - Denotes laughter and empathy

Owl - Denotes souls of the dead

Salmon - Denotes determination and instinct

Raven - A trickster, curious and mischievous

Sea Turtle - Mother Earth

Thunderbird - Mythological bird that creates thunder and lightning

Wolf - Helps those in need or who are sick

Examples of Denotation in the Zodiac

Zodiac denotations are important to know your signs. Explore the denotations of zodiac signs.

Aries (ram) = March 21 - April 19

Taurus (bull) = April 20 - May 20

 Gemini (twins) = May 21 - June 20

Cancer (crab) = June 21 - July 22

Leo (lion) = July 23 - August 22

Virgo (virgin) = August 23 - September 22

Libra (scale) = September 23 - October 22

Scorpio (scorpion) = October 23 - November 21

Sagittarius (archer) = November 22 - December 21

Capricorn (sea-goat) = December 22 - January 19

Aquarius (water bearer) = January 20 - February 18

Pisces (fish) = February 19 - March 20

Examples of Denotation in Heraldry

Ever wondered about the denotation on a coat of arms. Dive into these heraldries denotations.

Acorn - Independence and strength

Anvil - Honor

Arm - Hardworking people

Buckle - Protection and self-defense

Cat - Courage and liberty

Crow - Permanent settlement

Dragon - Guardian of treasures, bravery

Fleur-de-lis - Flower of light, perfection, life and light

Griffin - Mythical animal denotes strength and courage

Red Hand - Knight or baronet

Horse - Readiness for king and country, speed and intelligence

Lion - Undying courage

Owl - Vigilance

Rose - Hope and joy

Snake - Wisdom and defiance

Swan - Beauty and grace

Tree - Strength, noblest of oak trees (Ireland)

Wings - Swiftness and protection

Wolf - Guardianship and valor

Symbols That Denote Good Luck

Everyone needs a bit of luck in their lives. These denotations could have your luck looking up!

Alligator teeth

Amber

Cat's eye stone

Crickets

Dolphins

Dream catchers

Elephants

Falling star

Feathers

Four-leaf clover

Goldfish

Horseshoe

Kachinas ladybugs
 Pigs

Rabbit's foot

Rainbows

Sapphire

Scarabs

Tigers

Wishbone

Examples of Symbols That Denote Friendship

Looking for friendship denotations? Here are a few common ones.

Friendship bracelet

Jade plant

Lapis Lazuli

Rhodonite ball

The Claddagh (Irish)

Two crossed arrows (Native American)

Yellow rose
Symbols That Denote Purity

There are several symbols that mean purity like:

Lotus flower

Pearls

Unicorns

The color white

White dove

White lily

Black cross inside a green circle (Celtic)

Getting Literal With Denotation

You’ve had a little fun with denotation. While it might seem denotation just has a few examples, as
you can see, denotation meanings cover several areas and examples. Now that you’ve got a good
grasp on denotation, you might want to take a look at connotative words and examples.

Totem Pole as examples of denotation

Definition of Denotation

Denotation is generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its

connotative or associated meanings.
Let us try to understand this term with the help of an example. If you search for the meaning of the
word “dove” in a dictionary, you will see that its meaning is “a type of pigeon, a wild and
domesticated bird having a heavy body and short legs.” In literature, however, you frequently see
“dove” used to mean a symbol of peace.

Denotation and Connotation

In literary works, we find it a common practice with writers to deviate from the dictionary meanings
of words to create fresher ideas and images. Such deviations from the literal meanings are referred
to as “figurative language,” or “literary devices,” e.g. metaphors, similes, personifications,
hyperboles, understatements, paradoxes, and puns. Even in our daily conversation, we diverge from
the dictionary meanings of words, preferring connotative or associated meanings of words in order
to accurately convey our message.

Below is a list of some common deviations from denotative meanings of words that we experience in
our day-to-day life:

Dog – suggests shamelessness or an ugly face.

Dove – suggests peace or gentility.

Home – suggests family, comfort, and security.

Politician – suggests negative connotation of wickedness and insincerity

Pushy – suggests someone is loud-mouthed and irritating.

Mom and Dad – when used instead of “mother and father” suggest loving parents.

Short Examples of Denotation

She recognized the lovely aroma of her mother’s cooking. (Smell)

Vegetables are an inexpensive (Cheap)

Hanna’s interest in interior decoration has turned into her leisure pursuit. (Hobby)

Aunt Jolly lives in a hut deep down in the forest. (Cabin)

I stopped for brunch at a diner situated in the bay area. (Café)

His parents are conservationists. (Environmentalists)

My old computer has died. (Venerable)

In a stealthy and quiet way, Bob entered into his lawyer’s chambers. (Cautious)

The son was somewhat intimidated by father’s assertive (Confident)

 Ben is an adventurous (Courageous)

Emily moved around the shore and stopped to take rest. (Relax)

The man is flocking together young sheep. (Lambs)

Harry has a pet and keeps it in a cage. (tamed animal)

Sara forgot her sweater at home and is cold during her walk. (Chilly)

John returns to his home (Family)

Denotation Examples in Literature

Example #1: Mending Wall (By Robert Frost)

“And on a day we meet to walk the line

And set the wall between us once again.

We keep the wall between us as we go.

To each the boulders that have fallen to each.”

In the above lines, the word “wall” is used to suggest a physical boundary, which is its denotative
meaning, but it also implies the idea of an emotional barrier.

Example #2: A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal (By William Wordsworth)

“A slumber did my spirit seal;

I had no human fears —

She seemed a thing that could not feel

The touch of earthly years.

No motion has she now, no force;

She neither hears nor sees;

Roll’d round in earth’s diurnal course

With rocks, and stones, and trees.”

Wordsworth makes a contrast between a living girl and a dead girl in the first and second stanzas
respectively. We are familiar with the meanings of the words used in the last line of the second
stanza: rock, stone, and tree. However, the poet uses them connotatively, where “rock” and “stone”
imply cold and inanimate objects, and the tree suggests dirt and thus the burial of that dead girl.
Example #3: As you Like It (By William Shakespeare)

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts, …”

Shakespeare moves away from the denotative meanings of words in the above lines, in order to give
a symbolic sense to a few words. The phrase “a stage” symbolizes the world, the word “players”
suggests human beings, and the word “parts” implies different stages of their lives.

Example #4: Wild Asters (By Sara Teasdale)

“In the spring, I asked the daisies

If his words were true,

And the clever, clear-eyed daisies

Always knew.

Now the fields are brown and barren,

Bitter autumn blows,

And of all the stupid asters

Not one knows.”

Sara Teasdale develops a number of striking symbols by deviating from the denotative meanings of
the words. In the above lines, “spring” and “daisies” are symbols of youth. “Brown and barren” is a
symbol of transition from youth to old age. Finally, “bitter autumn” symbolizes death.

Example #5: Richard Cory (By E. A. Robinson)

“And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked …

“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich — yes, richer than a king …

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.”

Here, the poet uses denotative language to emphasize the personality of Richard Cory, who was
wealthy, indeed he was “richer than a king.” He was well-educated, and a perfect celebrity –
everyone in the town wished to be like him. He shines brightly in his speech and mannerisms,
nevertheless, he kills himself in the end.

Example #6: Nicomachean Ethics (By Aristotle)

“[C]ontemplation is both the highest form of activity (since the intellect is the highest thing in us,
and the objects that it apprehends are the highest things that can be known), and also it is the most
continuous, because we are more capable of continuous contemplation than we are of any practical
activity.”

In these lines, Aristotle explains the literal function of contemplation in the human mind. Also, he
explains that contemplation is a human activity that is done continuously. He uses phrases and
words that directly describe contemplation.

Example #7: Fire and Ice (By Robert Frost)

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice …

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice …”

In the above lines, the poet has used a number of denotative meanings of words. Here, “some say”
denotes a group of people, and “I know” represents personal experience. Then “end,” “fire,”
“perish,” and “destruction” denote destruction and death.

Example #8: Moby Dick (By Herman Melville)

“What the white whale was to Ahab, has been hinted; what, at times, he was to me, as yet remains
unsaid. Aside from those more obvious considerations touching Moby Dick…It was the whiteness of
the whale that above all things appalled me.”

Ishmael opens the above example by referencing the white whale, calling him “Moby Dick.” Also, he
specifies and refers to the white color of the whale, and using it in its literal meaning.

Function of Denotation
Readers are familiar with denotations of words but denotations are generally restricted meanings.
Writers, therefore, deviate from the denotative meanings of words to create fresh ideas and images
that add deeper levels of meanings to common and ordinary words. Readers find it convenient to
grasp the connotative meanings of words because of the fact that they are familiar to their literal
meanings.

Definition of Tone

Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is

generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.

Every written piece comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a writer
approaches this theme and subject is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic,
sarcastic, sad, or cheerful, or it may be any other existing attitude. Consider the following examples
of tone:

“I want to ask the authorities what is the big deal? Why do they not control the epidemic? It is
eating up lives like a monster.”

“I want to draw the attention of the appropriate authorities toward damage caused by the
epidemic. If steps are not taken to curb it, it will further injure our community.”

The theme of both tone examples is the same. The only way we can differentiate between them is
their separate tone. The tone in the first example is casual or informal while, it is more formal in the
second.

Tone Examples in Common Speech

We adopt a variety of tones in our day-to-day speech. This intonation of our speech determines
what message we desire to convey. Read a few examples below:

Example #1
Father: “We are going on a vacation.”

Son: “That’s great!!!”

– The tone of son’s response is very cheerful.

Example #2

Father: “We can’t go on vacation this summer.”

Son: “Yeah, great! That’s what I expected.”

– The son’s tone is sarcastic.

Example #3

“Yeah, your grades on this exam will be as good as the previous exams.”

– The tone is pessimistic in this example.

Example #4

“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?”

– This has an aggressive tone.

Short Examples of Tone

Though the starry sky was beautiful, his mood was so melancholic that he took no interest in it.

The old man took the handful of dust from his farm and sniffed it with great pleasure.

The sweet smell of spring roses made overjoyed him.

The old man’s face looked so peaceful after death that he seemed in deep sleep.

The spectacle of sunset was so astounding that people stood watching breathlessly.
 The scorching heat of the desert sun burned his skin black, and he could see death hovering over
his head.

The singing of birds was deemed a messenger for approaching spring.

His stinking breath kept listeners at a considerable distance from him.

The muffled church bell sounded as thought it came from an unfathomably deep well.

The kind touch of her mother’s hand comforted her in her pain.

He was on his way to home when he saw a boy of ten, who moved his heart as he stood weeping.

The negotiations between the two states came to a halt after terms of reference could not be
agreed upon.

The harsh gusts of cruel cold wind battered her body.

He went into the restaurant and ordered a hot coffee, the cozy atmosphere inside reminded him
of the past.

Examples of Tone in Literature

Tone has a significant place in literature as it manifests writers’ attitudes toward different subjects.

Example #1: Catcher in the Rye (By J. D. Salinger)

Holden Caulfield, in J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, unfolds his personality through the tone he
adopts throughout the novel. Let us have a look at some of his remarks:

“All morons hate it when you call them a moron.”

“If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late? Nobody.”

“Goddamn money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.”

“Catholics are always trying to find out if you’re Catholic.”

Holden’s tone is bitterly sarcastic as he criticizes the nature of things in real life. His character may
reveal the attitude of the writer towards life, as it is common for writers to use their characters as
their mouthpieces.

Example #2: The School (By Donald Barthelme)

Observe the tone of a short story, The School, by Donald Barthelme:

“And the trees all died. They were orange trees. I don’t know why they died, they just died.
Something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff we got from the nursery wasn’t the best.
We complained about it. So we’ve got thirty kids there, each kid had his or her own little tree to
plant and we’ve got these thirty dead trees. All these kids looking at these little brown sticks, it was
depressing.”

The use of the adjectives “dead” and “depressing” sets a gloomy tone in the passage. As trees signify
life here, their unexpected “death” from an unknown cause gives the above passage an unhappy and
pessimistic tone.

Example #3: The Road Not Taken (By Robert Frost)

Robert Frost, in the last stanza of his poem The Road Not Taken, gives us an insight into the effect of
tone:

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Frost tells us about his past with a “sigh,” this gives the above lines an unhappy tone. This tone leads
us into thinking that the speaker in the poem had to make a difficult choice.

Example #4: A River Runs Through It (By Norman Maclean)

“This was the last fish we were ever to see Paul catch. My father and I talked about this moment
several times later, and whatever our other feelings, we always felt it fitting that, when we saw him
catch his last fish, we never saw the fish but only the artistry of the fisherman.”

The extract contains tones of loss and nostalgia; however, the characters look quite satisfied with
the way things are moving forward.

Example #5: The Tell-Tale Heart (By Edgar Allen Poe)

 “It was A LOW, DULL, QUICK SOUND – MUCH SUCH A SOUND AS A WATCH MAKES WHEN
ENVELOPED IN COTTON. I gasped for breath, and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly,
more vehemently but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and
with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why WOULD they not be gone? I paced
the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men, but the
noise steadily increased. O God! What COULD I do?”

This short story by Poe contains the tones of insanity, nervousness, and guilt. The character suffers
from all these feelings, which the writer has translated into a story.

Example #6: A Clean, Well-Lighted Place (By Ernest Hemingway)

“It was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the
leaves of the tree made against the electric light. In the day time the street was dusty, but at night
the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it
was quiet and he felt the difference.”

In this short excerpt, the culminating tone of the writer is that of peace and serenity, though he talks
of the day time in a bit different tone.

Function of Tone

Tone, in a piece of literature, decides how the readers read a literary piece, and how they should feel
while they are reading it. It stimulates the readers to read a piece of literature as a serious, comical,
spectacular, or distressing manner. In addition, tone lends shape and life to a piece of literature
because it creates a mood. Moreover, tone bestows voice to characters, and throws light on the
personalities and dispositions of characters that readers understand better.

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Once More unto the Breach

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

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 Curiosity Killed the Cat

Raining Cats and Dogs

Mood Definition

In literature, mood is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through
words and descriptions.

Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional setting
that surrounds the readers. Mood is developed in a literary piece through various methods,
including setting, theme, tone, and diction. Let us see how writers use the afore-mentioned
elements in their literary works to create a particular mood.

Creating Mood through Setting

Setting is the physical location in a piece of literature that provides background in which the events
of the narrative take place. A particular setting not only provides support to the contents of the
story, but also sets the mood of the readers. Let us analyze a few examples of mood developed using
a setting:

Example #1: Pickwick Papers (By Charles Dickens)

Charles Dickens creates a calm and peaceful mood in his novel Pickwick Papers:

“The river, reflecting the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed noiselessly on.”

The depiction of idyllic scenery imparts a serene and non-violent mood to the readers.

Example #2: Wuthering Heights (By Emily Bronte)

Emily Bronte, in Wuthering Heights, creates two contrasting moods through two contrasting
settings. The events of the narrative takes place in two neighboring houses: Wuthering Heights and
Thrushcross Grange. A depressing mood is created whenever Wuthering Heights is described. For
example, in chapter 12 the narrator says:
 “There was no moon, and everything beneath lay in misty darkness: not a light gleamed from any
house, far or near all had been extinguished long ago: and those at Wuthering Heights were never
visible…”

On the contrary, the description of Thrushcross Grange creates a calm and peaceful mood:

“Gimmerton chapel bells were still ringing; and the full, mellow flow of the beck in the valley came
soothingly on the ear. It was a sweet substitute for the yet absent murmur of the summer foliage,
which drowned that music about the Grange when the trees were in leaf.”

The contrast presented in the settings also helps in the development of the different characters. The
people from Wuthering Heights are unsophisticated, while those from Thrushcross Grange are
refined.

Creating Mood through Tone

The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and subject is called the tone. The readers
always rely on the writer’s point of view of the events taking place in a story. They observe the story
through his eyes. They feel the way the writer feels about the events taking place and the
description provided. Therefore, the attitude of the writer evokes feelings and emotions in the
readers.

Example #3: The Road Not Taken (By Robert Frost)

For instance, see how Robert Frost, in his poem The Road Not Taken, creates a gloomy feeling
through his tone:

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Frost informs us about his past with a “sigh” that gives the above lines an unhappy tone and thus
evokes an unhappy mood. An unhappy mood is created because the poet convinces us that he
regrets a choice he made in the past.

Creating Mood through Diction

Diction is the choice of words a writer uses. Diction or choice of words conveys deep feelings, and
depicts the events, places, and characters in a literary work in specific colors, having an effect on the
way the readers feel about them.

Example #4: Gulliver’s Travel (By Jonathon Swift)

The following lines from Jonathon Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is one of the great mood examples
created using diction:

“And being no stranger to the art of war, I have him a description of cannons, culverins, muskets,
carabines, pistols, bullets, powder, swords, bayonets, battles, sieges, retreats, attacks, undermines,
countermines, bombardments, sea-fights…”

In order to create feelings of disgust in readers, for the destructive consequences of war, the writer
chooses words that are unmelodious, harsh, and jarring. The diction in the above passage
corresponds with the subject matter.

Function of Mood

Mood helps in creating an atmosphere in a literary work by means of setting, theme, diction, and
tone. It evokes various emotional responses in readers, and thus ensures their emotional attachment
to the literary piece they read. Once the readers are emotionally stirred, they fully comprehend the
message that the writer tries to convey to them.

I. What is Connotation?

A connotation is a feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal or main meaning (the
denotation). Often, a series of words can have the same basic definitions, but completely different
connotations—these are the emotions or meanings implied by a word, phrase, or thing.

For example, “This clothing is affordable!” versus “This clothing is cheap!” Here, “affordable” sounds
much better than “cheap,” because the word cheap also implies low quality.

II. Examples of Connotation

Connotation is an additional meaning for a word or phrase; thus, the examples are endless. As
mentioned, many words will share the same literal meaning, but may connote different feelings or
ideas. Below are several examples:

Stench, smell, aroma, scent, odor

Strong, tough, sturdy, hard

Proud, confident, arrogant, egotistical

Childish, childlike, young, youthful

Rich, loaded, privileged, wealthy, affluent

Broke, poor, impoverished

Frugal, economical, stingy, cheap

Tempting, attractive, interesting

Liar, storyteller, fibber

Independent, unfriendly, private, standoffish

Think of these words used in the similar conversations. For example, imagine the difference between
describing someone as a “strong woman” or a “sturdy woman”: because of these words’
connotations, the first implies that she is strong emotionally, while the second implies that she is a
sturdy physically. Now, apply these two terms to a table—a “strong table” and a “sturdy table” have
essentially the same meaning.

III. Types of Connotations

Most of the examples above can be categorized as having either positive, negative, or neutral
connotation, or sometimes both positive and negative, depending on how they are used.

a. Positive

A word whose connotation implies positive emotions and associations. For example, “the aroma of
my grandmother’s cooking” produces a positive association, because the word “aroma” implies that
the smell is pleasing and inviting.

b. Negative
A word whose connotation implies negative emotions and associations. If we exchange the adjective
“aroma” in the above sentence so that it now reads “the stench of my grandmother’s cooking,” the
meaning changes completely. Though both “aroma” and “stench” mean smell, “stench” has a
negative connotation; thus, the meal sounds much less appealing.

c. Neutral

A word whose connotation is neither positive nor negative. For example, when speaking about a pet,
the word “dog” has a neutral connotation; but, the word “mutt” has a negative connotation, and the
word “purebred” has a positive connotation.

IV. Importance of Connotation

Most words have two meanings: a denotative (literal) meaning, and a connotative (implied)
meaning. It is important to note that not all connotations are solely positive or solely negative—
depending on how a word is used, it can connote different things. Thus it is one of the most critical
things to consider when it comes to word choice, in both literature and everyday conversation. In
fact, the feelings or meanings associated with words can be everything. Connotations set the tone
when writing and speaking, and clarify one’s intentions —they can elicit certain emotions or
reactions or help to provide distinct impressions of things. Conversely, choosing words with the
wrong connotation can produce an undesired reaction or emotion and misrepresent one’s
intentions.

V. Examples of Connotation in Pop Culture

Example 1

In the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Joel and Clementine’s conversation on the train
takes several unanticipated turns because of the word “nice:”

Clementine: I apply my personality into paste.

Joel: Oh, I doubt that very much.

Clementine: Well, you don’t know me so… you don’t know, do you?

Joel: Sorry, I was… just trying to be nice.

Clementine: Yeah… I got it…

Clementine: … I’m Clementine, by the way.

 Joel: I’m Joel.

Clementine: Hi, Joel.

Clementine: No jokes about my name… Nooo, you wouldn’t do that. You were trying to be nice.

Joel: I don’t know any jokes about your name.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (1/11) Movie CLIP - Train Ride (2004) HD

Here, the word “nice” has a negative connotation for Clementine—for her it means dull, ordinary,
pleasant; it has no truly significant meaning. Joel, however, is an awkward man, and tries to use the
word in a simple but positive way—clearly he finds Clementine to be a bit strange and intense, but
chooses to be “nice” by using the word “nice” to describe her. For him, “nice” has a positive
connotation, thus he is taken aback when Clementine has such a dramatic reaction.

Example 2

In the Christmas comedy movie Elf, Buddy the Elf gets himself into a lot of trouble because of his lack
of understanding of the word “elf “in everyday American society, as can be seen from the following
scene:

Buddy: I didn’t know you had elves working here!

Miles: Oh, well, you’re, you’re hilarious, My Friend.

Walter: He doesn’t, uh… Get back to the story, please.

Miles: All right, okay. [Clears throat] So, on the cover, about the title…

Buddy: Does Santa know that you left the workshop?

Miles: You know, we’re all laughing our heads off…

Buddy: Did you have to borrow a reindeer to get down here?

Walter: Buddy, go back to the basement.

Miles: Hey, Jackweed. I get more action in a week than you’ve had in your entire life. I’ve got
houses in L.A., Paris & Vail, each one with a 70-Inch plasma screen. So I suggest you wipe that stupid
smile off your face before I come over and smack it off! You feeling strong, my friend? Call me elf
one more time!

Buddy: [Whispering] He’s an angry elf.

[Miles runs across the table to charge at Buddy.]

The Angry Elf - Elf (5/5) Movie CLIP (2003) HD

For Buddy, being an elf is his dream—he is a human with love and affection for “elf culture”- he has
always wanted to be a “normal” Christmas Elf. So, when he sees Guy—a man with dwarfism—he
foolishly calls him an elf. For Guy, being called an elf is incredibly belittling and insulting; for Buddy,
it’s the most positive thing possible—he doesn’t understand that its use is inappropriate in this
situation, since it was part of everyday language in the North Pole.

VI. Examples of Connotation in Literature

Example 1

Comics often rely on a word’s connotation to make a situation humorous, as in the comic below
from Calvin and Hobbes:

Hobbes: Why are you digging a hole?

Calvin: I am looking for buried treasure!

Hobbes: What have you found?

Calvin: A few dirty rocks, a weird root, and some disgusting grubs.

Hobbes: On your first try??

Calvin: There’s treasure everywhere!

Here, Calvin says he is digging for treasure, and the word treasure has the positive connotation of
something valuable. For readers, something valuable usually means money and/or gold. For Calvin
and Hobbes, however, rocks, roots and grubs are valuable, and therefore, “treasure.” Though
treasure connotes the same positive meaning—something valuable—for both the readers and for
Calvin and Hobbes, the joke lies in the character’s unusual idea of what is valuable.

Example 2
In The Lord of the Flies, the boys infamously use a conch shell as a tool for order; whoever holds it is
allowed to speak. However, as the story progresses, the conch begins to stand for more than the
right to speak:

He held out the conch to Piggy, who flushed, this time with pride.

‘You must carry it’

‘When we’re ready I’ll carry -‘

Piggy sought in his mind for words to convey his passionate willingness to carry the conch against
all odds.

As can be seen from the selection above, giving the conch to Piggy implies that he is being given
leadership—a positive connotation. Eventually, though, the conch gains a negative connotation, an
even stronger meaning for whoever possesses it: power. Holding the conch means holding the
power; thus when it is broken, no one has a voice, no one has power, and things inevitably fall apart.

VII. Related Terms

Denotation

While connotation is a word’s implied meaning or feeling, a denotation is a word’s literal meaning;
its definition. The two are directly connected; a word’s connotation is essentially a positive or
negative extension of its denotation. To understand a word’s denotation is to understand its basic
definition.

Double entendre

A double entendre is a word or phrase that has two meanings; usually one obvious and one subtle. It
is a way of saying something so that it can be understood in two different ways, which makes it a
very popular tool in comedy. A typical comedy routine on television might involve parents who
create a double entendre so that their kids don’t know what they are talking about—for example,
“Mommy needs her medicine” really means “Mommy needs her wine.” The difference between a
double entendre and a connotation is that a double entendre is usually an assigned meaning, while a
connotation is an implied meaning.
Homonym

A homonym is a word that is spelled one way but has two meanings. For example, “race” as in a race
of people, and “race” as in a running competition, likewise, a tree has “bark” and a dog makes the
sound “bark.” A homonym is different than connotation because the words’ literal, denotative
meanings are different; the words solely share the same spelling.

VIII. Conclusion

In conclusion, connotation can be everything in language. It gives further meaning to words and
phrases, creating positive and/or negative implications for words that have the same principal
meaning. Without connotations, language would be much more limited, stagnant, and inflexible—in
other words, boring!