Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ORCHESTRATE

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explore the archives: If you do a search for today's word on Google News, you'll notice that we use the word orchestrate in a neutral or positive way about 50% of the time (to describe arrangements that are artistic, effortful, or harmonious) and in a negative way the other 50% of the time (to describe arrangements that are sneaky, criminal, or violent).  Grandiloquence, too, has both a positive side and a negative side. Could you explain this? When is it a compliment to point out someone's grandiloquence, and when is it an insult? make your point with... "ORCHESTRATE" Think of how all the different instruments in an orchestra combine to create one skillful, harmonious effect.  To orchestrate things is to arrange them, combine them, or direct them in a way that reminds you of that skillful, complex, harmonious combination of instruments in an orchestra. Pronunciation: OR kiss trate Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, you orchestrate things.) Other forms: orchestrated, orchestrating, orchestration, orchestrator(s) How to use it: Like I mentioned above, orchestration can be positive ("they orchestrated this schoolwide canned food drive") or negative ("they were imprisoned for orchestrating the scheme that preyed on the elderly").   Talk about people who orchestrate attacks, changes, coups, crimes, demonstrations, efforts (to do something), policies, programs, schemes, etc. examples: In response to these soda taxes designed to reduce obesity, will soda companies orchestrate a resistance, or will they simply adjust? Officially, Beth was the club's photographer; unofficially, she was the orchestrator, getting everyone in place at each event and solving problems before they happened. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "orchestrate" means when you can explain it without saying "direct" or "organize." try it out: Think of a complex or impressive event. Fill in the blanks: "(Something took place), a tightly orchestrated (type of event)." Example: "From the 3-year-olds to the adults, every division at the dance school participated in the holiday show, a tightly orchestrated performance." 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 KWIKORD, an addictive, challenging new word game for solo or group play, created by Wayne Ellice.  We're dipping our toes into the game this month, trying some simple challenges first and working our way toward harder tasks. (Check out my interview with the game's creator here, and order your own copy of the full version of KWIKORD here.) You'll see a sample answer to each puzzle the following day. Enjoy! Yesterday, you took the letters NPRSAEOU and arranged them into as many 2-, 3-, or 4-letter words as possible within a 4x4 grid. Many solutions were possible. Here are two: We've been working our way up toward the full version of the game KWIKORD, played on a 7x8 grid with the 4 corners shaded gray. In the full version, you score your game by multiplying the number of words you created by the number of corners you reached. It's really fun! Let's try this, but we'll keep things simple by sticking to our 4x4 grid. Given the letters BGLYAEEO, we can aim for a maximum score by creating as many words as possible and reaching all the corners: In the example above, we scored 32 points by making 8 words and reaching all 4 corners (8x4=32). And in fact, for a 4x4 grid, 32 points is the maximum score. Try that today with the letters CHNSOIEA. See if you can score 32 points by making 8 words and reaching all the corners. Draw three vertical and three horizontal lines on some scrap paper, and go for it! review today's word: 1. The opposite of ORCHESTRATED is A. UNCHOREOGRAPHED B. UNENCUMBERED C. UNPRECEDENTED 2. Consumers have _____ the CEO's orchestration of bait-and-switch ad campaigns. A. praised B. questioned C. criticized Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C