Connotation: The Feelings Words Carry

Analyze how authors choose words with positive or negative connotations to shape readers' views.

Denotation is a word's dictionary meaning. Connotation is the feeling or association a word carries. Words with similar denotations can carry very different connotations, and authors choose them on purpose. 'Thrifty' and 'stingy' both describe someone who doesn't spend much, but thrifty sounds wise while stingy sounds selfish. 'Confident' and 'arrogant,' 'curious' and 'nosy,' 'crowd' and 'mob': each pair shares a meaning but not a feeling. Read these original sentences describing the same event.

'Hundreds of residents gathered peacefully outside town hall. ' 'A mob swarmed town hall. ' Both describe many people at town hall, but 'gathered peacefully' makes readers sympathize, while 'mob swarmed' makes them uneasy. When you notice a word choice, ask: What other word could the author have used? How would that change my reaction? This comparison reveals the author's attitude and purpose, even in texts that seem neutral.

• 1Denotation is the dictionary meaning; connotation is the feeling
• 2Similar words can carry positive or negative connotations
• 3Ask what other word could have been used and how it would change your reaction