Thursday, July 17, 2008

"Notorious" and "Noted"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: Both these words mean well known or famous. Can't they be used interchangeably?

Answer: "Notorious" has the negative connotation of illegal or evil. "He is notorious for his gambling."

"Noted" has a positive connotation: "He is a noted poet."

Rating of Distractibility: (***). Sorry, but using these words in the wrong situation jars on my sensibility.

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