Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NON SEQUITUR

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

connect today's word to others: Today's term, non sequitur, looks a bit like sequence, sequel, segue, consecutive, consequences, and subsequent because they're all based on the Latin sequi, "to follow." So is this adjective: Someone or something __sequi__s is like an obedient, respectful, attentive servant or follower. (And that's annoying.) (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "NON SEQUITUR" "Sequitur" is Latin for "it follows." A sequitur is a response, an inference, or a conclusion that does make logical sense. "Non sequitur" is Latin for "it does not follow." A non sequitur is a response, an inference, or a conclusion that doesn't make sense in relation to what came before it. Pronunciation: non SECK wid ur Part of speech: Noun, the countable kind ("a non sequitur," "these non sequiturs"). Other forms: Just the plural, "non sequiturs." How to use it: When someone says something of the blue, and you suspect that the person is scatterbrained, not paying attention, or not willing to discuss the matter at hand, then refer to what they say as a non sequitur. You might refer to someone's comment, remark, answer, response, reply, summary, or conclusion as a non sequitur. Talk about someone replying with a non sequitur, adding a non sequitur to the conversation, countering a comment or question with some non sequitur, and so on. Or, talk about people noticing, pointing out, and challenging non sequiturs--or having a good laugh at non sequiturs. Non sequiturs are often funny and surprising, and sometimes purposeful: you can talk about a comment that seems like a non sequitur only at first, about a speaker who gets a laugh with a non sequitur, about a child who entertains us with her non sequiturs, etc. To get more figurative, refer to events, results, actions, or decisions as non sequiturs when they seem to follow illogically from the circumstances. "His current sales job is a non sequitur from his career in science." "After she spent no time training, her victory is a non sequitur." examples: It's a common tactic for opening an essay: introduce a non sequitur, then resolve it. "Erlandson ran a popular circus. It was about trees. ... ... That's because he was the creator of arborsculpting, the grafting together of multiple trees into circus-like creations." "Distilled to its essence, the argument for the [National Endowment for the Arts] is: Art is a Good Thing, therefore a government subsidy for it is a Good Deed. To appreciate the non sequitur, substitute 'macaroni and cheese' for 'art.'"    — George F. Will, The Washington Post, 15 March 2017 study it: Explain the meaning of "non sequitur" without saying "random comment" or "illogical result." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) speaks in non sequiturs; if asked _____, (he or she)  _____." Example: "My little girl speaks in non sequiturs; if asked to clear away her dishes, she explains why she loves unicorns." before you review, play: 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 is "TV Tropes!" This month, we're playing with tropes from TVTropes.org. TV tropes are storytelling devices, which can come from any source of fiction—TV, movies, books, you name it. They're the archetypes, the story patterns, the plot devices, the cheap tricks, the situational clichés that we see over and over throughout fiction.  Examples of TV tropes include "Skyward Scream," "Banister Slide," "Caught on the Jumbotron," "Burp of Finality," "City People Eat Sushi," "Dance Party Ending," "Clean Pretty Childbirth," "Come Back to Bed, Honey," "Even the Subtitler is Stumped," and tens of thousands more. Naming a trope can be a straightforward business, as in the "Skyward Scream." But often it demands precision, inviting the use of humorously sophisticated terms. Enter our Make Your Point words.  In each issue this month, consider the name of a TV trope, and try to define it or even give an example from a TV show or other work of fiction. From the previous issue: In fiction, what is the trope known as Affably Evil? Answer: It's when some villain maintains a warm, pleasant, friendly attitude, despite the villainy. For example, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mayor Richard Wilkins III is polite, fatherly, and quick to chuckle warmly. But he does plan to wreak havoc and death on the entire town. Try this today: In fiction, what is the trope known as the Dangerous Device Disposal Debacle? review today's word: 1. The exact opposite of NON SEQUITUR is SEQUITUR. But a close opposite of NON SEQUITUR is A. DEPTH. B. RIPOSTE. C. DISPENSATION. 2. To make his point, John Oliver piles up non sequiturs: _____ A. "The planning, the execution, and the results." B. "What about Archduke Ferdinand? What about Cher?" C. "From Alice Walker to Toni Morrison and Mary McCarthy." 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