Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ABERRATION

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connect today's word to others: To err is to make an error. So, what does it mean when we talk about, say, the Supreme Court's errancy? Similar to that same basic idea of erring is today's word, aberration. To aberrate is to wander off from the path of what's normal or expected. In other words, an aberration is a d_v__tion from the norm: something that turns aside and takes a different, unexpected path. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "ABERRATION" This word has Latin roots that literally mean "wandering away from." An aberration is something strange or unusual that doesn't fit with the pattern or the expectation. Pronunciation: AB uh RAY shun Part of speech: Noun. It's usually countable ("an aberration," "one aberration," "multiple aberrations"), but it can also be uncountable ("such aberration," "a great deal of aberration"). Other forms: The adjective is "aberrant;" the adverb, "aberrantly." (Or, if you prefer, use the less common "aberrational" and "aberrationally.") The verb forms are "aberrate," "aberrated," and "aberrating." (Things can aberrate on their own, and things can aberrate other things.) And, an aberration can also be called an aberrance or an aberrancy. How to use it: This word has a scientific tone, so it can sound a bit cold, clinical, or detached when we use it outside of scientific fields, like optics or biology. Examples of aberrations include actions, choices, events, outcomes, results, scores, victories and losses in sporting events and other competitions, social and historical movements and upheavals, etc. Basically, if it's strange, unusual, unexpected, and different from the norm or the pattern, you can call it an aberration. You can get more specific by adding an adjective: talk about mental aberrations, genetic aberrations, natural aberrations, astronomical aberrations, etc. Because aberrations are abnormalities or exceptions, and because we talk about aberrations in terms of what's normal, we can say that one thing is an aberration in, among, or from other things. We often talk about viewing, interpreting, classifying, or even dismissing something as an aberration. And, just as often, we point out that one thing is not an aberration but instead reveals the truth or the new normal: "His crime wasn't an aberration; he's always been a criminal." "Their victory isn't an aberration; it's a sign that they've truly improved." examples: Sadly, the blogger's experience as an "independent presenter" with Younique (which included going into debt, earning nothing, and alienating her friends) wasn't an aberration. It was par for the course. "While seemingly innocuous, the fence would be an aberration among the tony front yards in the 200 block of A Street NE — a mostly residential block near the Supreme Court building."    —Perry Stein, The Washington Post, 17 December 2017 study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "aberration" means when you can explain it without saying "oddity" or "glitch." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "When it comes to _____, (someone) insists on accuracy, forbidding even the slightest aberration." Example: "When it comes to pouring the hard liquor, the restaurant manager insists on accuracy, forbidding even the slightest aberration." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing "Sleek Slogans." I'll take a familiar slogan from a company or a product, express that slogan in plain language, and tell you the specific qualities the slogan has (like rhyme or alliteration), and then you come up with the real slogan as well as the name of the company or product. From the previous issue: Rewrite this slogan by using repetition and parallelism (the use of balanced clauses or phrases): "Chew our product, and have twice as much enjoyment, and feel twice as good, compared to if you didn’t chew our product." Answer: That's a slogan for Wrigley's Doublemint that dates back to 1959: "Double your pleasure, double your fun."  Try this one today: Rewrite this slogan by using concision (the use of as few words as possible) and parallelism (the use of balanced clauses or phrases): "With our products and services, we empower you to accomplish projects around the house on your own." review today's word: 1. One opposite of ABERRANT is A. TYPICAL. B. CORRECT. C. MORALIZING. 2. The score was an aberration, _____, like a _____. A. pleasing but unsurprising .. favorite home-cooked meal B. painfully accurate .. dressing room mirror C. random and lucky .. four-leaf clover Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C