Make Your Point > Archived Issues > TRUNCATE

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connect today's word to others: To truncate something is to cut it short. We got that word, as well as the word trunk, from the Latin truncare, meaning "to cut off" but also "to m___: to damage things or people so badly that they're injured permanently or made useless." Could you recall that one-syllable word? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "TRUNCATE" Originally, to truncate a tree meant to chop off its main branches, basically turning it into just a trunk.  And today, when you truncate something, it's as if you're chopping off its branches: to truncate something is to chop part of it off, making it shorter. Pronunciation: TRUN kate Part of speech: Verb, the transitive kind: "the computer truncated the message," "the touring schedule was truncated by his illness." Other forms: truncated, truncating, truncation How to use it: The tone of this word is often harsh and negative, but it can also be simply factual. Talk about one thing truncating another thing, or about a person truncating a thing. In casual, non-technical speech and writing, we talk about truncating abstract things ("the training program was truncated") and not concrete things; that is, we don't talk about truncating someone's hair or truncating a loaf of bread. (But in technical contexts, we do talk about truncating some concrete things, like geometrical planes.) Examples of things that get truncated include words, phrases, expressions, stories, explanations, examples, discussions, television series, people's careers, and even people's lives. examples: On a graph, never trust a truncated y-axis: if it doesn't start all the way down at zero, then the graph is exaggerating differences. "In the case of the truncated music program, it was perhaps a plea for a renewed commitment."    —Michael Sokolove, Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater, 2013 study it now: Look away from the screen to define "truncate" without saying "chop off" or "clip short." try it out: Fill in the blank: "Too many lives have been truncated by _____." Example: "Too many lives have been truncated by cancer." 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. Complete the Clichés! In each issue this month, I'll present a general theme and a handful of common expressions that apply to it--but only the first few words of each expression. See if you can complete them!  To keep things interesting, I've picked a mixture of phrases both new and familiar to me. I hope some will pique your curiosity and inspire you to Google them for their meanings and backstories. (Please try that first, and if your search turns up empty, email me for help.) If you're playing this game with the kids in your family or your class, you might enjoy talking together about what the phrases mean. Enjoy! In the previous issue, the theme was "don't say that:" A. A distinction without... B. Lay it on with... C. Make a mountain... D. Run off at... E. Soft... F. Talk through your... G. Thump the... Answers: A. A distinction without a difference B. Lay it on with a trowel C. Make a mountain out of a molehill D. Run off at the mouth E. Soft soap F. Talk through your hat G. Thump the tub Try these today. The theme is "everything's just fine:" A. All wool and a... B. Cakes and... C. A chicken in every... D. The even tenor... E. I'm in fine... F. Land of... G. A place in... review today's word: 1. The opposite of TRUNCATE is A. EXTEND. B. PACKAGE. C. SUPPLANT. 2. When our winter was truncated, we blamed _____. A. over-commercialism B. rich holiday foods C. climate change Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's 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. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C