Comments on: Do Synonyms Exist? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:41:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Robert http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-326100 Robert Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:41:37 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/#comment-326100 I have found one, and i dont know why it exists. Peculation; definition is "embezzlement" in other words. peculation means embezzle embezzlement etc.. so thus embezzlement and peculation are of identical meanings. Which makes no sense to me. I have found one, and i dont know why it exists.
Peculation; definition is “embezzlement”
in other words.
peculation means embezzle embezzlement etc..
so thus embezzlement and peculation are of identical meanings.
Which makes no sense to me.

]]> By: Synonym http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-69399 Synonym Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:37:18 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/#comment-69399 Also Wikipedia states that, "...there is no such thing as a true synonym." "Those who work with language know that there is no such thing as a true synonym. Even though the meanings of two words may be the same - or nearly so - there are three characteristics of words that almost never coincide: frequency, distribution and connotation." Also Wikipedia states that,

“…there is no such thing as a true synonym.”

“Those who work with language know that there is no such thing as a true synonym. Even though the meanings of two words may be the same – or nearly so – there are three characteristics of words that almost never coincide: frequency, distribution and connotation.”

]]> By: faidah http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-8754 faidah Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:12:54 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/#comment-8754 uhftgiul uhftgiul

]]> By: Michael http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-4594 Michael Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:24:07 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/#comment-4594 I always assumed that on some level, all people feel that different words in their native language have different connotations, even if they don't consider themselves lovers of words. However, the English language has more words than other languages, just as the Inuits in Alaska have more words for "snow," so maybe English speakers have the luxury of more meanings. Since connotations are subjective, influenced by our own experiences and feelings, if anyone claims to find two words with identical meanings, I will promptly explain why, to me, they mean different things. So there! (grin) I always assumed that on some level, all people feel that different words in their native language have different connotations, even if they don’t consider themselves lovers of words. However, the English language has more words than other languages, just as the Inuits in Alaska have more words for “snow,” so maybe English speakers have the luxury of more meanings.

Since connotations are subjective, influenced by our own experiences and feelings, if anyone claims to find two words with identical meanings, I will promptly explain why, to me, they mean different things. So there! (grin)

]]> By: Brad K. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/comment-page-1/#comment-4578 Brad K. Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:06:06 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/do-synonyms-exist/#comment-4578 Two things. First, a synonym also has to take into account the context of usage. Where two words may not be that similar in definition, in specific usage they may come to be pretty similar. He cleaned the manure from the mare's stall. He cleaned the muck from the mare's stall. (Sorry for the scatalogical context - that was just the first that occurred to me, and any horse lover understands the everyday nature of the usage.) Muck and manure are quite different in where they are used, all the variations of what they may connote. In this instance, muck represents a specific instance where the meanings coincide, and the usage limits both to that same meaning. The other. Don't laugh. HP presents a color thesaurus. http://h20325.www2.hp.com/blogs/color/archive/2007/10/29/4914.html Type in a color name, they show four similar (synonym) and four opposite (antonym) colors. They actually label the columns synonym and antonym. Maybe terminally cute, but I stumbled on an article about it just after reading this one. http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/11/09/find-color-synonyms-with-the-hp-color-thesaurus/ Thanks for a thought-provoking article! Two things.

First, a synonym also has to take into account the context of usage. Where two words may not be that similar in definition, in specific usage they may come to be pretty similar.

He cleaned the manure from the mare’s stall.
He cleaned the muck from the mare’s stall.

(Sorry for the scatalogical context – that was just the first that occurred to me, and any horse lover understands the everyday nature of the usage.) Muck and manure are quite different in where they are used, all the variations of what they may connote. In this instance, muck represents a specific instance where the meanings coincide, and the usage limits both to that same meaning.

The other. Don’t laugh. HP presents a color thesaurus.
http://h20325.www2.hp.com/blogs/color/archive/2007/10/29/4914.html
Type in a color name, they show four similar (synonym) and four opposite (antonym) colors. They actually label the columns synonym and antonym. Maybe terminally cute, but I stumbled on an article about it just after reading this one.
http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/11/09/find-color-synonyms-with-the-hp-color-thesaurus/

Thanks for a thought-provoking article!

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