A definition delineates the boundaries of the meaning of a thing or idea. It answers the questions “What is it?” and “What is it not?” The problem with words are many:

1) Words usually do not have precise literal meanings (its denotation or “dictionary definition”).

2) A word can have more than one denotation.

3) Denotations can change with time, by region/culture, by context, or even from person to person.

4) Words also have connotations – implications and emotional overtones associated with the word, from symbolic associations to emotional associations. These connotations can also change with time, by region/culture, by context, or from person to person. Think of the difference between the words “naked” and “nude” – both have as one of their denotations “completely unclothed” or “without clothing” yet each has different connotations.

5) Some words represent complex or abstract ideas, issues, subjects, or topics which often defy easy definition. Scientists, for example, still debate what the definitive definition of “life” is. Astronomers debate the definition of the word “planet.”

These differing denotations and connotations can cause difficulties in communication. Before scientists can discuss an object, a theory, an observation, or a problem, they need to have a shared agreement on definitions. Many contracts and reports first establish definitions of key words to help prevent misunderstanding (or to protect themselves from lawsuits).

Writers also play with the denotative and connotative meanings of words to create new ideas and images, often through the use of figurative language (for instance: hyperbole, irony, metaphor, paradox, personification, simile, and understatement).

Marketers can play with definitions. “Fragrance-free” is not the same thing as “unscented” even though at first glance they seem to be synonyms. “Unscented” products often contain small amounts of fragrance to counter the odors of the product’s active ingredients. “Organic” to most people gives visions of totally 100% naturally grown food with no synthetic or artificial treatments. However, in the U.S., produce can be labeled as organic even if it is not 100% natural: organic produce in the U.S. requires at least 95% organic ingredients, but still can be processed using artificial conditions, methods, and materials. Different countries have different definitions for organic produce.

Definitions are often used in persuasive arguments: if you can get your reader to accept all your definitions, you have increased your chances of convincing them to accept your position – whether it is to see something in a new way or to change their mind about their position about a thing or idea. For instance, prosecutors and defense lawyers argue before judges and juries whether or not the actions of the accused meet the legal definition of a crime, or if the accused is insane or not. The success of their arguments often depends in good part upon how well they are able to persuade the judge or jury to accept their definitions. Writers often persuade people to alter their perceptions by providing alternative definitions.

Thus, definitions are needed when

1) You need to establish a shared understanding of key concepts to prevent misunderstanding.

2) You want to help an audience understand a difficult or new concept.

3) You want to change an audience’s thinking about a thing or idea.

For Technical Writing 303, you need to pick a critical definition that your readers need to understand in order to accept your final recommendation; recall that your final Technical Report will compare and contrast a few or several solutions to a problem in your field, and persuasively argue for, recommend, one solution (preferably an innovative solution) over the others, as well as show that it is feasible.

For some, defining the problem is critical for the reader to understand: maybe your audience may include people who do not realize there is a problem, or that it is a critical problem. They need to be convinced first, and sometimes one method to help convince them is to use a definition argument.

For others, defining the innovative solution will be most critical for two reasons: (1) non-innovative solutions are usually already known or discussed or promoted and (2) you will need to convince your readers your solution is the best, and one method to help convince them is to use a definition argument.