Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ALTERCATION

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

connect today's word to others: When you refer to a furious argument as an altercation, you're describing it in a way that's formal, detached, and professional. But if you refer to it as a fracas or a melee, you're adding some color and emotion to your description. And if you refer to it as a ker______, you make the argument sound goofy, cartoonish, ridiculous--a small step away from a cowboyish dustup or wrangle. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "ALTERCATION" This word comes from Latin and literally means "a dispute with another person." An altercation is an angry, noisy argument.     Pronunciation: ALL tur KAY shun 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 one altercation or multiple altercations.) Other forms: altercations; altercate, altercated, altercating; altercative An altercation is a verbal fight, right?: Right. Although it can escalate into a physical fight, an altercation by itself is a verbal fight. Still, you'll notice that some writers do use "altercation" to mean "physical fight," and some even refer to "physical altercations." So should I have defined "altercation" as "a verbal or physical fight"? No, but let's avoid an altercation over it, y'all. If the dictionaries update their definitions, I will, too. How to use it: When you need to refer to a heated dispute in a cold, formal, serious way, call it an altercation (instead of a fight, quarrel, dispute, squabble, or argument). Journalists, lawyers, and police officers often use this word to talk about loud, furious arguments in a detached, professional way. Talk about people starting an altercation, getting into an altercation, being involved in an altercation, witnessing an altercation, and so on. We often add "with:" "an altercation with her friend," "this altercation with my landlord," "another altercation with a police officer." Or, we can add "between" or "among:" "that altercation between a husband and wife," "this altercation among the tenth graders." You might talk about an altercation over, about, or concerning a specific issue: "the altercation over a price," "their altercation about the property line," "an altercation concerning the inheritance." examples: She was itching for an altercation and already had one finger in the air. They've matured. They don't stir up profane altercations at the dinner table any more. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "altercation" means when you can explain it without saying "heated argument" or "loud dispute." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(In a certain situation, or among a certain group of people), a discussion about _____ can easily escalate into an altercation." Example: "In our sociology class, a discussion about gender identity could easily escalate into an altercation." 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. Our game this month is "The Meanings of Maladies." I'll share a tidbit about the word for a particular symptom, disease, or condition, and you try to name it. We'll start with common maladies and work our way toward the rare and strange. From our previous issue: The word for this disease comes from an Italian word for "a visiting" or "an influence of the stars on our lives," with the idea being, loosely, that the stars destined us to suffer from it. What is it? Answer: Influenza. Try this today: The word for this disconcerting sensation traces back to the Latin vertere, "to turn," and so it's related to words like "avert," "conversion," and "divergent." What is it? review today's word: 1. The opposite of ALTERCATIVE is A. SOLO. B. AMICABLE. C. CONSISTENT. 2. We want _____, not an altercation. We can't _____. A. a long-term solution .. lose sight of the forest for the trees B. a compromise .. shake hands with clenched fists C. a break .. keep burning the midnight oil 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. B 2. B