It’s a word confusion of implication versus statement, of connotation versus denotation.
Connotation suggests or implies a thing. That a mother is not only a parent, but also implies qualities such as protection and affection.
Denotation is explicit in the literal, primary meaning of something.
A lovely example is that of home having a denotation of a house or apartment where someone lives while home also has the connotations of warmth, security, or childhood.
Credit to: Connotation
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Connotation | Denotation |
|---|---|
Meadow Valley by Martin Vorel is in the public domain, via Libreshot. — This peaceful valley carries connotations of home, comfort, happiness. |
Table Set for Dessert by thorstenF is in the public domain, via Pixabay. — This tells me, well, it’s a denotation, that dessert is laid out — and it looks delicious. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Morpheme: connote
Noun Plural: connotations |
Morpheme: denote
Noun Plural: denotations |
An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning
Something suggested or implied by a word or thing, rather than being explicitly named or described [Logic] Another word for intension, i.e., the state or quality of being intense |
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests
A word that names or signifies something specific
[Logic] The class of particulars to which a term is applicable [Logic] That which is represented by a sign [Linguistics] Something designated or referred to [Linguistics] Another name for extension, i.e., the class of objects designated by a specific term or concept |
| Examples: | |
| The word discipline has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression.
A possible connotation of home is a place of warmth, comfort, and affection. The work functions both by analogy and by connotation. Christian has always had a negative connotation for me. “”Human science can never be quite certain of things like that,” said Father Brown, still looking at the red budding of the branches over his head, “if only because of the difficulty about definition and connotation. What is a weapon?” (Chesterton). Women that adventured were adventuresses, and the connotation was not nice. |
Beyond their immediate denotation, the words have a connotative power.
Outdoor warning sirens use numerous tones in which every tone has its own denotation. “The word hacker itself seems to carry a whiff of punk rebellion, its implied sophistication contrasting with a denotation of smashing and severing” (King). Wind is the denotation for air in natural motion. Poodle is the denotation for a certain breed of dog. The blueberry is very blue. The word modern has one literal denotation but several different connotations, including relating to the present time, as in modern life, up-to-date, and not old. There were visible denotations of divine wrath. “Readers want the immediate and we want the immediate pay-off — the upshot of an instant-gratification culture — which is why many articles and essays have a “time it takes to read this” denotation alongside the title or author’s name” (Lombardi). The mid-Victorian era is a denotation of somewhat passive sentiment and optimism both in society and in literature. A recipe includes specific denotations as to quantities and products. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: connotative, connotive, nonconnotative Adverb: connotatively, connotively, nonconnotatively Verb: connote |
Adjective: denotational, denotative Verb: denote |
| History of the Word: | |
| Mid-16th century, from the medieval Latin connotatio(n-), from connotare meaning mark in addition. | From 1525–35, the Latin dēnotātiōn- (stem of dēnotātiō) a marking out, equivalent to dēnotāt(us) (past participle of dēnotāre} + -iōn (-ion). |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Connotation versus Denotation
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Apple Dictionary.com
Chesterton, G.K. “The Fairy Tale of Father Brown.” The Wisdom of Father Brown. Originally published 1914. 2012. <https://amzn.to/3J2oDsa>. Ebook.
“Connotation.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. n.d. Web. 8 June 2023. <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/connotation>.
Dictionary.com: connotation, denotation
The Free Dictionary: denotation
King, Darryn. “The Role-Playing Game That Predicted the Future.” The Atlantic. Dec 2020. Web. 8 June 2023. <https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/12/mike-pondsmith-cyberpunk-2077/616924/>.
Lombardi, Giancarlo. “Reframing the Death of Art.” The Brooklyn Rail. May 2016. Web. 8 June 2023. <https://brooklynrail.org/2016/05/books/reframing-the-death-of-art>.
Pinterest Photo Credits
A Girl’s Sadness and Loneliness by darksouls1 is in the public domain, via Pixabay.
