Positive and negative connotations

Key Notes:

What is Connotation?

Connotation is the feeling or idea that a word suggests, in addition to its literal or main meaning (called denotation). Think of it as the emotional meaning of a word.

Positive vs Negative Connotation

Words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations:

• Positive Connotation: The word suggests something good, favorable, or optimistic. 😊
• Negative Connotation: The word suggests something bad, unfavorable, or pessimistic. 😠
• Neutral Connotation: The word doesn’t really suggest a strong positive or negative feeling. 😐

Example: Describing Someone’s Personality Let’s say we want to describe someone who is determined.

Positive: Driven, Ambitious, Determined Neutral: Focused Negative: Bossy, Aggressive, Pushy

Why is Understanding Connotation Important?

Understanding connotation is important because it helps you:

• Choose the right words: You can pick words that accurately express what you mean and how you want your audience to feel.
• Understand the author’s purpose: You can identify the author’s attitude and tone in writing.
• Avoid misunderstandings: You can be aware of the emotional impact of your words and avoid unintentionally offending or misleading others.
• Improve your writing: It will make your writing more engaging, descriptive and persuasive.

Word: Cheap Denotation: Low in price.

Connotation: Negative. Suggests poor quality or stinginess.

More Examples

| Word | Positive Connotation | Negative Connotation |
| ————- | ———————- | ———————- |
| House/Home | Home | Shack |
| Thin | Slender | Skinny |
| Confident | Assertive | Arrogant |
| Talkative | Chatty | Gossipy |

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about connotation, try the following:

• Practice: Look up words in a dictionary and think about their connotations.
• Read: Pay attention to the words authors use and the feelings they create.
• Write: Experiment with different words to find the ones that best express your ideas.

Let’s practice!🖊️