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Connotative Words

  • Page ID
    185955
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    "It's not what you said; it's how you said it."

    Would you rather trudge through the snow or stroll through the snow?

    The verbs have similar meanings, but each has a different connotative meaning.

    Trudge connotes a struggle, but stroll suggests a relaxing walk.

    The connotation of a word are the associations, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and concepts connected with a word.

    Have you ever been told, or told someone, "It's not what you said, it's how you said it." If so, then you were talking about connotative words!

    If you can determine connotative words in a text, then you will be better able to understand the author's tone, which is the author's feelings about a subject.

    Check the video to the left to understand connotative words and tone better. Be sure to take notes!

     


    Connotative Words is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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