Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ERSATZ

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connect today's word to others: When my sisters and I were kids, we asked our grandmother for some Dr. Pepper from Wal-Mart, and she brought us a bottle of Dr. Thunder. We couldn't stop laughing. Something about the generic imitation of the national brand was just, you know, a hoot. Dr. Thunder, Dr. Perky, Dr. Perfect: it's all ersatz Dr. Pepper, a fake version of it, an imitation that's just not as good as the real thing. Can you hear the heavy consonants in ersatz? Let's categorize it with other harsh-sounding loan words from German, like Weltschmerz and Herrenvolk, that help us make a point dramatically. (Do you need to review either of those words? If so, give them a click.) make your point with... "ERSATZ" This is German for "substitute" or "replacement." Ersatz things are fake or pretend, like a poor imitation of the real thing.     Pronunciation: Many ways are correct. I suggest "AIR zots." Part of speech: Usually an adjective ("this ersatz fiction," "it seems ersatz"). But it can also be a noun ("We sell no ersatz here"). Other forms: none How to use it: With its harsh consonants and its foreign sound and spelling, "ersatz" is the formal word you need to be especially dismissive of whatever you think is fake, inferior, second-rate, and substandard. We can be literal and talk about ersatz coffee or soda, ersatz ribs or burgers, ersatz dress shirts or athletic shoes, ersatz art, ersatz weapons, and so on. Often we're more abstract, talking about ersatz fiction or journalism, ersatz beauty or glamor, ersatz loyalty or sincerity, ersatz diplomacy or intellectualism, his ersatz triumph, her ersatz display of sympathy, etc. And we can simply talk about an ersatz form or version of something, an ersatz attempt at something, an ersatz replica of something, and so on. examples: Cara enrolled in an ersatz online school, a dull march through a series of repetitious, typo-ridden lessons. On Saturday Night Live, Daniel Radcliffe is hilarious as a YouTuber basking in his ersatz celebrity. "A thousand people watched [my video], therefore I assume everyone knows my name and admires my work." study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "ersatz" means when you can explain it without saying "a poor excuse for something" or "a crummy version of something." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Someone or something) seems like an ersatz (better person or thing)." Example: "It's kind of catchy, but the whole tune seems like an ersatz Elton John ballad." 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 is also the name of a certain animal on the zodiac. Why? When some ancient Greek physicians looked at a swelling on the body, surrounded by veins, they thought the whole area resembled that animal. What's the disease called? Answer: Cancer. Try this today: If you recognize the Greek roots in the name of this disease, you might be confused and think of vampires: it appears to mean "blood-loving." But it all makes sense when you think about how the Greek philia can mean not only "love" but also "a tendency to"--and this disease involves a tendency to bleed. What is it? review today's word: 1. One opposite of ERSATZ is A. BONA FIDE. B. EXPENSIVE. C. HIGH-ENERGY. 2. I love Cracker Barrel; the _____ may be ersatz but the biscuits are _____. A. nostalgic farm decor .. authentic B. old-fashioned sodas .. free C. dinner portions .. hefty 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. A