Chapter 9. Drafting and Revising Definitions and Descriptions © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's 1

Two Uses of Definitions

• Definitions clarify a description. For instance, a zoologist who has discovered a new animal species names and defines it.

• Definitions help specialists communicate with less knowledgeable readers.

Chapter 9. Drafting and Revising Definitions and Descriptions © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's 2

Types of Definitions

• parenthetical

• sentence

• extended

Chapter 9. Drafting and Revising Definitions and Descriptions © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's 3

Standard Pattern for Sentence Definitions

Item = Category + Distinguishing Characteristics

Chapter 9. Drafting and Revising Definitions and Descriptions © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's 4

Guidelines for Writing Effective Sentence Definitions

• Be specific in stating the category and the distinguishing characteristics.

• Don't describe a specific item if you are defining a general class of items.

• Avoid writing circular definitions: definitions that merely repeat the key words or the distinguishing characteristics of the item being defined in the category.

• Be sure the category contains a noun or a noun phrase rather than a phrase beginning with when, what, or where.

Chapter 9. Drafting and Revising Definitions and Descriptions © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's 5

Techniques Used in Extended Definitions

• graphics

• examples

• partition

• principle of operation

• comparison and contrast

Chapter 9. Drafting and Revising Definitions and Descriptions © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's 6

Techniques Used in Extended Definitions (cont.)

• analogy

• negation

• etymology

• history of the term