Make Your Point > Archived Issues > À LA MODE

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connect today's word to others: As we check out à la mode, meaning "in the (current) fashion," let's review two other trendy terms: 1. Something with a fashionable tone or atmosphere is t__y. This word often describes hip neighborhoods. 2. Someone fashionable or bold and cheeky is r___ish. Here's an example I shared: "Even if you don't like action films, the r___ish charm of Robert Downey Jr. makes the Iron Man movies worth seeing." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "À LA MODE" (This term is French for "in the fashion," meaning "in the popular way" or "according to the current trend.") Of course, when you order your apple pie à la mode, then "à la mode" means "served with ice cream." And beef à la mode is served with gravy. But in general, something à la mode is trendy or fashionable. Pronunciation: all uh MODE Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."  "À la mode" is an unusual adjective because you often put it AFTER the word it describes instead of before. That is, you often say "a thing à la mode.") Other forms: "À la mode" can also be an adverb. (Below, we'll explore how to use it that way.) How to use it: Thanks to its association with ice cream on pie, "à la mode" is a colorful, flavorful little term that most people will understand when you apply it figuratively, even if they haven't heard it used that way before. Although some publications still use italics to show that it's foreign (à la mode), we don't have to--either way is correct these days. Let's look first at how to use it as an adjective. Again, we often put it AFTER the word it describes: cherry pie à la mode, music à la mode, party games à la mode, parenting à la mode, etc. If you prefer, you can put the adjective first and the noun second: that's a more naturally English way of using this term, but then of course you lose some of the French flavor: "an à la mode actress," "his à la mode style," "their à la mode apartment." Or, for extra emphasis, put this adjective after a "be" verb: "In their social circle, apathy is à la mode." You can even say that it's à la mode to do something: "In 2003 it was à la mode to maintain a Livejournal." Now let's check out the adverb. Talk about people speaking or writing à la mode, people acting or posturing à la mode, people decorating things or places à la mode, people being dressed or styled à la mode or arranging their hair à la mode, etc. Or, say that something is done à la mode of a particular time, place, thing, or person: "He spoke à la mode of the seventies." examples: Kohn rejects the assumption à la mode that kids today are more spoiled than ever. Around 2001, we used AOL Instant Messenger to post a flow of quirky and constantly updated away messages: self-expression à la mode.  study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "à la mode" means when you can explain it without saying "modern" or "up-to-the-minute." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(At a certain time, or within a certain group of people), _____ (is/are/was/were) becoming à la mode." Example: "In our fourth grade class, themed birthday parties were becoming à la mode." 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 with The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. It's a collection of silly, sarcastic, satirical definitions of everyday words, and--lucky us!--it's in the public domain. In each issue this month, I'll give you one of Bierce's definitions and, if it's a tough one, I'll give you the word's first letter. And you try to come up with the word. From our previous issue: Bierce defines it as "a period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments." It's a noun. What is it? Answer: Year. Try this today: Bierce defines it as "one who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of your money." It's a noun. It starts with A. What is it? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of À LA MODE is A. BYGONE B. MINIMAL C. ZESTY 2. It's à la mode in the board games industry to _____. A. include clear, detailed game instructions B. design game boxes to be readable and visually pleasing while on display both vertically and horizontally C. irk consumers by transferring to them the task of punching out hundreds of pieces and tokens from rugged cardboard sheets 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. B