Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SCANT

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explore the archives: Something scant is not enough. Insufficient. Lacking. Meager. Ask students to write a report between two and ten pages long, and I guarantee most will be a scant two pages long. :) "Scant" probably reminds you of "d___th:" the noun that's shorter than "shortage" but means the same thing. make your point with... "SCANT" Something scant is very limited or barely enough. Pronunciation: SCANT (rhymes with ANT) 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 scant thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was scant" or "These were scant.") Other forms: "Scant" is also a verb: to scant something is to skimp on it or to deal with it in an inadequate way. But it's rare. Is it different from "scanty"? Not really! "Scant" and "scanty" mean the same thing. By tradition, "scanty" more often describes clothes and outfits. "Scant," with just the one syllable, and without the similarity to informal adjectives like funky, mushy, and snippy, conveys your idea slightly faster and in a slightly more formal manner than "scanty." How to use it: "Scant" often describes an insufficient amount of something: a scant two yards, the scant attendance at the meeting, this scant portion of meat, a scant allowance or budget. "Scant" can also describe objects or abstract things that are too small or extremely limited: scant space, scant room, scant light to read by, scant illustrations in these assembly instructions, scant justice, scant progress, scant knowledge or understanding, scant fame, scant attention or mention, scant devotion, scant consideration, scant eloquence, scant evidence or proof, scant details or information or data, etc. examples: I could find only scant evidence for the link between vocabulary and salary. (See the whole disappointing story in this blog post's lengthy footnote.) Along the long road from Hilo to Kona, restrooms are scant; gas stations and restaurants, nonexistent. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "scant" means when you can explain it without saying "not enough" or "just barely enough." try it out: Think of a situation in which you didn't have enough time or money. Fill in the blanks: "The scant (certain amount of time or money I had) weren't enough to/for _____."  Example: "Those scant two hours of sleep weren't enough to remove the zombieness from my face and posture." 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: Also known as agnomination and paronomasia, puns rely on same-sounding (or similar-sounding) words. Here's Oscar Wilde: "Immanuel doesn't pun, he Kant." Here's Bad Joke Eel: "Becoming a vegetarian is a huge missed steak." You might roll your eyes at puns or even despise them; still, you'll admit that they call attention to the fascinatingly arbitrary nature of English. So, how did this bit of dialogue from the 1998 film Rushmore really go? Dr. Flynn: These are O.R. scrubs. Max: For real? Answer: Dr. Flynn: These are O.R. scrubs. Max: Oh, are they? Try this one today: Maya Angelou makes use of isocolon in this statement: "When you learn, teach. When you get, give." Isocolon, like you see there, is the use of repeated phrases with equal length and similar rhythm. "Loose lips sink ships." Here's Cicero: "Friends, though absent, are still present." In the 1970's, folks enjoyed blithely stating that the way to fix pollution was by allowing contaminants to spread out. Restore the isocolon, and the statement becomes irresistibly catchy. review today's word: 1. The opposite of SCANT is A. RADIANT B. ABUNDANT C. IRIDESCENT 2. With scant interest in clothes or shopping, Kim _____. A. finds it a challenge to stick to her monthly budget B. finds something to appreciate in everyone's style choices C. finds joy and meaning in gardening and home improvement projects instead 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. B 2. C