Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SALIENT

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"SALIENT" Pronunciation: "SAY lee unt" or "SALE yunt" Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in “a salient feature.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The feature was salient.”) Meaning: Concretely, something salient leaps up or jumps up, especially beyond a certain spot. Abstractly, something salient is especially easy to notice because it stands out from other things. Other forms: saliently, salience/saliency, saliencies, salient (a noun that means a thing that pokes out or up) How to use it: Talk about a salient aspect, attribute, or feature; a salient fact, point, or piece of information; a salient argument, viewpoint, view, idea, bias, or attitude; a salient concern, issue, or worry; a salient advantage, benefit, disadvantage, or shortcoming, etc. A note on spelling: Even though something salient does sail out at you, and even though "salient" and "sail" are related, remember to spell "salient" without the word "sail" inside. (Don't write "sailient.") I seem to waste a lot of time reading articles online that make either one or zero truly salient points. A salient advantage to living in a cooler climate is saving money by not running the air conditioning very often. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "salient” means when you can explain it without saying “jumping out" or “conspicuous." Think of a physically beautiful person or place, and fill in the blanks: "(Person or place)'s most salient feature is _____." Example: "Drew's most salient feature is his long, dark eyelashes." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: Our game for May is:  “What Do These Words Have in Common?” The three words given will have something specific in common. (More than one right answer might be possible, but I've only got one particular answer in mind for each set of words.) I've arranged the questions from easiest to hardest, so today’s should be fairly difficult. By the end of the month, expect some whoppers.   From yesterday: What do these words have in common?: invalid, desert, tear Answer: Each is a heteronym: a word that shares the same spelling with another word, but has its own meaning and pronunciation: invalid (meaning “not valid,” said “in VAL id,” and meaning “sick person,” said “IN vuh lid”), desert (meaning “leave alone,” said “dih ZERT,” and meaning “dry place,” said “DEH zert”), tear (meaning “rip,” said “TARE,” and meaning “teardrop,” said “TEER.”) Try this one today: ambivert, realist, agnostic A Point Well Made: William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White: “But do not forget that what may seem like pioneering may be merely evasion, or laziness—the disinclination to submit to discipline.” 1. The opposite of SALIENT is A. DISTURBED B. CONCEALED C. NONEXISTENT 2. The most salient problem in education is _____ in the literature on educational research. A. nearly always overshadowed by others B. addressed over and over C. generally treated as a joke Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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. B 2. B