Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CAPSTONE

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explore the archives: "Capstone" is a word warmly embraced in the world of business; it suggests a crowning achievement, the ultimate touch of efficacy, style, or accomplishment.  Businesspeople also seem to love v______d, that word connoting leadership and boldness--it means "the leaders of an advancing army," or in general, "the leaders of any new movement." Can you recall it? make your point with... "CAPSTONE" Like it sounds, a literal capstone is a stone that caps a wall: it's any of the stones forming the top of a wall or the top of a building. So, a figurative capstone is any finishing touch or crowning achievement. In other words, in a series of actions or achievements, the capstone is the highest, most important one. Pronunciation: CAP stone Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like "bottle," "piece," and "decision," are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about "a bottle," "three pieces," and "many decisions." Likewise, talk about a capstone, the capstone, or capstones.) Other forms: capstones How to use it: Call something a capstone when it provides the final, excellent touch to some achievement, accomplishment, career, program, service, etc. You can say that one thing is the capstone of something else or to something else: the museum visit was the capstone of our trip; the movie this evening was the perfect capstone to our day. One thing can serve as a capstone for a series of things. Or you might put a capstone on something: "Her time spent volunteering in foreign nations put the capstone on her scholarship application." Even though "capstone" is a noun, folks often use it like an adjective: capstone projects, capstone courses, capstone achievements, capstone programs, capstone speeches, etc. You can distinguish "capstone" from "keystone" by recalling that a keystone is the most important thing that keeps everything else in place--it's a stone in the middle--while a capstone is the most important thing that tops off everything else--it's a stone on top. Depending on your idea, though, both words might be appropriate. Finally, although some dictionaries insist on a hyphen ("cap-stone"), most everyone today writes "capstone" as a compound word. examples: The capstone of her stand-up comedy routine is a quick succession of several uproarious impersonations. A full complement of up-to-date certifications was the capstone to his job application. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "capstone" means when you can explain it without saying "highest achievement" or "finishing touch." try it out: Think of a project you've been working on or goal you've been working toward, and fill in the blanks: "The capstone of my attempt to (achieve something in particular) will fall into place when I (complete a final step that finishes it all off)." Example: "The capstone of my attempt to clean out my inbox will fall into place when I finally unsubscribe to the stuff I want to read but don't." 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. Language Techniques: When language sounds beautiful or memorable, often there’s some particular technique responsible for that effect. Each day this month, I’ll give you a specific stylistic technique or quality, and I’d like you to recreate (as closely as you can) the quote that I’ve botched by removing it. We’ll work our way from the easiest to the hardest techniques. Enjoy! From yesterday: Like similes and metaphors but more functional, analogies are comparisons that serve to explain or clarify.  For example, George R. R. Martin has said that "a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge."  If Winston Churchill had simply said, "A good speech should be long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest," then nobody would be quoting that idea now. But we are. What cheeky analogy did Churchill include in that statement? Answer: "A good speech should be like a woman's skirt: long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest." Try this one today: Personification is what's going on when writers give human traits or actions to nonhuman things, like when Mark Twain wrote that "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." In Henry IV, Part II, Shakespeare didn't just write "Know the grave is for thee thrice wider than for other men." What human action did he attribute to that grave, making the warning more dire and chilling? review today's word: 1. The closest opposite of CAPSTONE is A. TOUCHSTONE (BASIS OF COMPARISON) B. MILESTONE (SIGNIFICANT EVENT) C. CORNERSTONE (BASIC ELEMENT) 2. _____ was the capstone to her career.  A. Her first real job after college B. Her decision to quit her job and follow her true passion C. Her award-winning final album Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@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. C