Make Your Point > Archived Issues > GALE

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"GALE" Pronunciation: GALE 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 gale or multiple gales.) Meaning: Concretely, a gale is a very strong gust of wind.  Abstractly, a gale is a loud or strong outburst of anything. Other forms: gales How to use it: "Gale" is an easy word. I include it in Make Your Point because I'm afraid it gets used too narrowly in the phrase "gales of laughter," which is so common that it's pretty much a cliche. So, instead of just gales of laughter, talk about gales of outrage, gales of protest, gales of confidence, gales of worry, gales of triumphant singing, gales of cruel jeering, and so on. You don't have to use the word "of:" you might say, for example, that your friend's snarky tweets get posted in gales. You can also talk about one gale at a time, too: you can have a gale of criticism, a gale of complaints, a gale of whining, a gale of uncertainty, a gale of desertions, and so on.  Rest assured, when you see a character named "Gale," that the author picked the name on purpose! Consider Dorothy Gale, who got swept up in a tornado, and The Hunger Games's Gale, the embodiment of strength who (spoiler alert) sweeps out as many neighbors as he can as the leader of an emergency evacuation. It's exciting for me when I get a gale of new subscribers to Make Your Point; it usually happens right when I run an advertisement. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "gale” means when you can explain it without saying “burst of wind” or “loud outburst." Think of the last time you noticed a bunch of people complaining, and fill in the blank: "A gale of complaints arose as _____." Example: "A gale of complaints arose as the performer on stage shouted out a greeting to the name of the wrong city." 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 moderately difficult. By the end of the month, expect some whoppers.   From yesterday: What do these words have in common?: air, owe, oar Answer: All consist of a single sound (according to some linguists.) Try this one today: recognize, diagnosis, incognito A Point Well Made: Sun Tzu: “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” 1. The opposite of GALE is A. ZEPHYR B. HAIL C. EROSION 2. Gales of applications _____ the department. A. overwhelmed B. angered C. steadied 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. A 2. A