Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SCANDALMONGER

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explore the archives: Even if you haven't heard it before, "scandalmonger" is one of those words that defines itself. The same might be said for the three useful words below--could you complete the definition for each? Something suffering from elephantiasis has become unnaturally and extremely _____. A fait accompli is a thing that's already been _____. A hairsbreadth is a distance or space that's very, very ____. make your point with... "SCANDALMONGER" A monger is someone who sells things: a fishmonger sells fish; a bookmonger deals in books. More loosely, mongers are people interested in or devoted to a certain thing: fadmongers, fashion-mongers, weather-mongers. However, a nasty flavor often tinges this word: mongers are not just sellers but dealers or traffickers. So we end up with words like "pleasure-monger," "warmongering," "atrocity-mongers," mongers that we can't even name in this family-friendly email, and "scandalmonger:" a person, group, or publication who spreads gossip.  Pronunciation: SCAN dull mong ur Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like "bottle," "piece," and "decision," are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about "a bottle," "three pieces," and "many decisions." Likewise, talk about one scandalmonger or multiple scandalmongers.) Other forms: scandalmongers, scandal-mongery, scandal-mongering (you can use that one as a noun or an adjective) How to use it: Call people, groups, or publications scandalmongers if they seem to take pleasure in sharing and spreading all the worst, most gossipy news--the public stuff that we all know about, or the more private stuff within your own town, family, or circle of friends. This word has a negative tone: scandal-mongering is neither classy nor kind. So you often talk about how scandalmongers pounce on details or stories, invent or exaggerate details, or purvey or peddle information. Why do we write hyphens for some of these words (fashion-mongers, atrocity-mongers, scandal-mongering) and not for others (scandalmonger, fishmonger, fadmonger)? It's not an exact science; I'm actually just following the current suggestions from the Oxford English Dictionary. Hyphens are wiggly little things, disappearing more quickly from commoner words. I doubt anyone will get upset if you decide to write a hyphen in or leave one out where I haven't. examples: Scandalmongers keep circulating that same old story without adducing any further evidence for it. Rita Skeeter is a scandal-mongering witch in the Harry Potter world--someone we love to hate, maybe even more than Voldemort because she's so very realistic. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "scandalmonger" means when you can explain it without saying "gossip spreader" or "someone obsessed with horrible rumors." try it out: Think of a person, group, or company that's often in the news for bad reasons, and fill in the blanks: "I have a feeling that (someone or some group) isn't quite as (bad/evil/malicious/immoral) as the scandalmongers make (him/her/it/them) out to be." Example: "I have a feeling that Chipotle isn't quite as evil as the scandalmongers make it out to be. I doubt their executives are in their offices going 'bwah-ha-ha' as they plan how to make people ill with unsafe ingredients." 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. Language Techniques: When language sounds beautiful or memorable, often there’s some particular technique responsible for that effect. Each day this month, I’ll give you a specific stylistic technique or quality, and I’d like you to recreate (as closely as you can) the quote that I’ve botched by removing it. We’ll work our way from the easiest to the hardest techniques. Enjoy! From yesterday: Anastrophe is when you flip around the regular word order. Yoda is the Jedi master of anastrophe: "Ready are you?", "My own counsel will I keep." And you hear so much anastrophe in those Lord of the Rings movies that it starts to sound normal: "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will." "Long has my father...kept the forces of Mordor at bay." In David Copperfield, Charles Dickens didn't write, "Mr. Micawber has talent; Mr. Micawber doesn't have capital." What did he write instead? Answer: "Talent, Mr. Micawber has; capital, Mr. Micawber has not." Try this one today: Not to be confused with the ellipse, which is that triple dot you use to pause, ellipsis is when you leave out certain words or phrases because they'll be understood anyway. For example, Oscar Wilde stated, "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go." He didn't say "...others cause happiness whenever they go." Mark Twain didn't write, "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't obliged to do that." What did he write instead? review today's word: 1. The opposite of a SCANDALMONGER is somebody who A. REVELS IN GOSSIP B. ANALYZES GOSSIP C. AVOIDS GOSSIP 2.  Once a mere _____, she has published a book and hosted a talk show... and has become a true scandalmonger. A. student B. busybody C. third-party candidate Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, 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. C 2. B