Make Your Point > Archived Issues > LABOR-SAVING

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"LABOR-SAVING" Pronunciation: LAY bur say ving Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in “a labor-saving method” 2. After a linking verb, as in “The method was labor-saving.”) Meaning: "Labor-saving" is very easy to understand, but it might not be part of your active vocabulary--so let's take a look at it! Something labor-saving helps you do less work or even helps you do no work at all. In other words, something labor-saving saves you from doing too much labor, or saves you from doing any labor at all. Other forms: There are no other forms, but be aware that some people write "laborsaving" and some write "labor saving." I recommend using the hyphen: "labor-saving." How to use it: Talk about labor-saving technology or equipment, a labor-saving device or appliance, a labor-saving system, labor-saving features, or a labor-saving benefit, tool, tip, method, design, invention, and so on. After cutting all the decorative wood trim for the baby's room by hand with a standard miter saw, I was thrilled with the labor-saving power saw I bought for similar projects in the rest of the house. If you use an electronic textbook, I hope you make good use of the labor-saving "search" tool to zero in on a key word or phrase you're studying. Back in the day, we had to skim through the whole chapter, line by line, if we wanted to find a certain phrase. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You'll know you understand what "labor-saving" means when you can explain it without saying "labor" or "saving"! Think of something you have to do that is boring and laborious, and fill in the blanks: “I'd love to have a labor-saving _____ that would _____.” Example: “I'd love to have a labor-saving machine that would wash, dry, and hang up all the laundry.” Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don't go straight to the review now; let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month's game is "Guess the real pop song title when I give you a long-winded, highfalutin version of it." All the answers this month will be titles of popular songs released no earlier than 2012. Try it out each day and see the right answer the next day. We're playing this in order to appreciate the simple, precise vocabulary of pop song titles, despite how often they are criticized for being sappy, trite, and simplistic.   Yesterday’s answer: “Establishment in Which Consumers Purchase Secondhand Goods” is really “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz   Try this one today: “We are Incapable of Ceasing” A Point Well Made: Robert Heinlein: “One man's magic is another man's engineering.” 1. The opposite of LABOR-SAVING is A. CARELESS B. TIRED C. MANUAL 2. Labor-saving farm equipment _____ A. belongs in a museum, not on a modern-day farm. B. increases food production but may pose too great an expense. C. is cruel and should never be used by farm workers. Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. B