Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CETERIS PARIBUS

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connect today's word to others: It's modern Latin: ceteris paribus means "other things being equal." You can see why ceteris paribus looks a bit like the phrase et cetera, meaning "and the others." Could you explain why it also looks a bit like the word parity (and its opposite, disparity)? make your point with... "CETERIS PARIBUS" This is Latin for "other things being equal." You add it to your sentence whenever you need to emphasize that what you're saying about two things, or what you're saying about a relationship between two things, is true only if all other things are the same. Pronunciation: Guess how many different pronunciations are acceptable, according to the Oxford English Dictionary? Twelve! I recommend this one: "KAY der us PAIR uh bus." Part of speech: It's a chunk of words that acts like an adverb. (Adverbs usually describe actions:  that is, they tell when, where, how, or to what extent something is being done. You usually put them close to the action they describe: "something will happen, ceteris paribus," or, flip that: "ceteris paribus, something will happen.") Other forms: none How to use it: Pick this phrase instead of its English version, "all else being equal," when your tone needs to be formal--or when you're being mock-formal. In older texts you'll see it italicized to show that it's foreign, with a funky little conjoined vowel: cæteris paribus. But these days, we write it like any other natural English phrase. "Ceteris paribus" comes in handy when we're talking about science, economics, and personal preferences--or really, any complex topic involving variables that affect each other. We use "ceteris paribus" in sentence patterns like these:    1. "Something, ceteris paribus, is the best (or the worst)."     2. "Something, ceteris paribus, is better (or worse) than another thing."    3. "Something, ceteris paribus, is more (adjective) than something else."    4. "Something would or will, ceteris paribus, happen in a certain way."    5. "Something would or will, ceteris paribus, have a certain effect or result." Did you notice how in all the patterns above, I stuck "ceteris paribus" right before the verb? You don't have to put it there; you can scoot it around. It can go between the verb and the object, like this: "Something is, ceteris paribus, the best (or the worst)." Or you can stick it at the very beginning or the very end of the whole statement: "Ceteris paribus, something is the best (or the worst)." "Something is the best (or the worst), ceteris paribus." examples: He prefers a strong black coffee to a flavored one, ceteris paribus. I went into my class on research design so ambitious. I was hoping to plan a study that would lead me to a wonderful conclusion: "These particular things we do with kids will, ceteris paribus, make them confident and passionate writers." But after I learned about the dozens of factors that can ruin (or at least weaken) the faith we place in a study's results, I realized that in the real world, there is no "ceteris paribus." study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "ceteris paribus" means when you can explain it without saying "as long as you hold everything else constant" or "on a totally even playing field." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "The more (something happens), the more (something else will happen), ceteris paribus." Example: "The more products you use on your hair, the more weighed down it will appear, ceteris paribus." 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, see if you can associate a snippet of song lyrics with a word we’ve studied before. For example, here's Dave Matthews: "Wasting time, let the hours roll by doing nothing for the fun. A little taste of the good life." Those lyrics call to mind the word LOTUS-EATING. From our previous issue:  In "More Than Words," Extreme sings:   "More than words is all I ever needed you to show  Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me  'Cause I'd already know." Do those lyrics call to mind the word SCRUPLE, TACIT, or USURIOUS? Why? Answer: TACIT. Something tacit is understood without being spoken in words. You might have a tacit understanding with someone--perhaps an understanding communicated solely through loving glances.  Try this today: (It's another love song. I can't help it; love is the focus of SO many songs.) In "Can't Get You Out Of My Head," Kylie Minogue sings:   "I just can't get you out of my head Boy, your lovin' is all I think about." Do those lyrics call to mind the word INCESSANT, NASCENT, or NICETIES? Why? review today's word: 1. The opposite of CETERIS PARIBUS could be A. WITH ALL OTHER INFLUENCES STANDARDIZED B. WITH SUPERFLUOUS DETAILS REMOVED C. WITH HIDDEN VARIABLES IN FLUX 2. A mammal with baby-like features such as large eyes will, ceteris paribus, _____. A. grace the covers of nature-themed magazines and calendars B. appear cuter to us than other mammals C. be classified as a hunter 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. C 2. B