Make Your Point > Archived Issues > IMPUNITY

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explore the archives: Just as "impotence" is the absence of potency and "impurity" is the absence of purity, "impunity" is the absence of punishment. Could you recall some of our other words with that prefix im, meaning not or absence of? 1. People so upset that you can't calm them down are im____able. 2. Things--like materials, borders, arguments, and minds--that don't let other things through them are im_____able. 3. Something that's neither sensible nor wise is im_____ic. Hint: in all three words, the letter "p" follows the prefix "im." You can spell that same prefix as in-, il-, and ir-, but im- is the form it always takes for base words starting with "p" (and "m," as in "immature" and "immobile"). make your point with... "IMPUNITY" Impunity is the absence of penalties or the absence of punishment. In other words, when you do something with impunity, you get away with it: you don't get penalized or punished. Pronunciation: im PYOON ih tee Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the impunity," "such impunity," "no impunity," and so on, but don’t say "impunities.") Other forms: none How to use it: Usually you talk about acting with impunity, especially doing something bad with impunity: "They've been ignoring the deadlines with impunity." Just as often, you use "impunity" in a negative sense to talk about how you can't do such-and-such with impunity: "Don't expect to openly insult the CEO with impunity." You can also use "impunity" without that word "with" to talk about the general absence of punishment for actions that deserve it: "rampant impunity in their department," "a perceived climate of police impunity," "we need to acknowledge this impunity and put a stop to it." Although things you do with impunity usually involve breaking rules, making errors, or committing crimes, you can also use this word more loosely: doing something risky without impunity means you do it without any negative consequences, such as getting hurt or injured. "These folks are healthy enough to jump into the icy river with impunity." examples: Thanks to TurnItIn.com, gone are the days when you can copy and paste your way to a C- on your papers with impunity. Larry regularly skipped his drama class with impunity, having convinced his guidance counselor that the drama teacher was blind as a bat and that he'd been there the whole time. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "impunity" means when you can explain it without saying "freedom from punishment" or "without being penalized." try it out: Think of something that is definitely not allowed in your house, classroom, workplace, community, or nation. Fill in the blanks: "In our _____, no one can _____ with impunity."  Example: "In our house, no one can leave a mess for someone else with impunity." 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: Nearly the opposite of accumulation, concision is the use of the fewest words possible. James Clear didn't say, "If you're consistent, then you'll master whatever you're working on." He said, "Mastery follows consistency." Alexander Pope didn't write, "Everybody makes mistakes; it's just part of being human. But forgiving other people's mistakes is what God does, so it's divine." What's the correct, concise version of this idea? Answer: "To err is human; to forgive divine." Try this one today: Every guide to writing style has a chapter on this technique, and no one quite agrees on what to call it--but when you place your most explosive word or idea last, it resonates the most. Arthur C. Clarke wrote that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Magic! Jane Austen didn't write, "The person, be it gentleman or lady, is intolerably stupid if he or she has not pleasure in a good novel." How does that line really go? review today's word: 1. The closest opposite of IMPUNITY is A. CONSEQUENCES B. DEVIOUSNESS C. FLOUTING 2. The entire department operates with impunity, its every decision _____. A. unparalleled B. unexamined C. unresearched 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. A 2. B