Make Your Point > Archived Issues > RUDDERLESS
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pronounce
RUDDERLESS:
Say it "RUD er less."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
The word rudderless joins our list of metaphorical words that includes mainstay, slipstream, and keelhaul.
What concept unites these words? Could you define each? Hint: I've listed them from top to bottom: a mainstay is up high, a slipstream is at sea level, and a keelhauling is just beneath that.
definition:
The word "rudder" comes from an Old English one meaning "oar or paddle."
On a boat, the rudder is the blade that you use to steer. (And on a plane, the rudder helps you "yaw" or twist, rather than steer. Thanks, Larry!)
On the sailboat below, I've circled the rudder in green:
(Thanks to How Stuff Works for that image!)
And, from Britannica Kids, here's a plane's rudder:
If your boat or plane has no rudder, it's rudderless: you have no way of steering.
Figuratively speaking, rudderless things are drifting, or out of control, like a boat or a plane with no rudder.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "this rudderless project," "she's feeling rudderless."
Other forms:
None are common, but you can use "rudderlessly" and "rudderlessness."
how to use it:
This word is clear and simple, with a negative tone.
Compared to synonyms like "aimless," "goalless," "purposeless," and "directionless," it provides a more interesting mental image.
Although there's a chance you might talk about literally rudderless things--"I'm freaked out by hot air balloons because they're rudderless; you go where the wind says you go"--it's much more likely you'll use this word figuratively.
You might talk about rudderless people, characters, couples, families, projects, stories, series, plots, companies, administrations, governments, communities, or countries.
examples:
"In the rudderless, post-Internet music world, it takes more than a few catchy songs to get noticed."
— Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 1 October 2014
"When the company was nearly bankrupt and rudderless in the late 1990s, it brought back founder Steve Jobs."
— Mark Rogowsky, Forbes, 13 January 2014
has this page helped you understand "rudderless"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "rudderless" without saying "adrift" or "floundering."
try it out:
A sports writer for the Seattle Times said, "Without their leading scorer, the Wildcats were rudderless on offense."
See if you can mimic that example, like this: "Without (some very important person or thing), (someone) is rudderless (in a certain situation)."
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Last month, our game was "Caption These!"
From the previous issue:
Answers:
A: vestige, B: ultimacy, C: Scylla and Charybdis.
(To review a term, give it a click.)
Next up, our new game for June: Polygon of Predestination!
With a high five to TheWordFinder.com for its puzzle generator, I'm Pat-Sajacking that spin-the-wheel game from TV.
In each issue in June, apply your alliterative acumen to solve the puzzle.
The category all month long is: "Beastly Blunders and Criminal Capers."
Try this one today:
Not sure yet? Need to see a bit more? Click here.
review this word:
A. SOLID and UPRIGHT.
B. FOCUSED and DRIVEN.
C. BALANCED and WELL-ROUNDED.
2. Even its own staff described the Cleveland Police Force in England and Wales, somewhat redundantly, as "_____, rudderless and _____."
A. lawless .. reckless
B. useless .. hopeless
C. directionless .. clueless
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my 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.
The word rudderless joins our list of metaphorical words that includes mainstay, slipstream, and keelhaul.
The word "rudder" comes from an Old English one meaning "oar or paddle."
Part of speech:
This word is clear and simple, with a negative tone.
"In the rudderless, post-Internet music world, it takes more than a few catchy songs to get noticed."
Explain the meaning of "rudderless" without saying "adrift" or "floundering."
A sports writer for the Seattle Times said, "Without their leading scorer, the Wildcats were rudderless on offense."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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