Basic Definition Types
Parenthetical Definition–occurs in text; brief; provides just enough information to help the read understand the term and continue reading
- He was playing a mandolin (a musical instrument).
Glossary–stands alone, often in the margin, linked to a pop-up window, or in a dictionary; provides greater detail to help a person understand specifically what the term means
- A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument, similar to a guitar, with a hollow, shell-shaped base, four strings, and a curved neck.
Elaborated–complex definition, using illustrations and multiple examples and descriptions; this is an encyclopedic definition aimed at helping a reader understand the full concept behind a term; elaborated definitions can be several pages long
- See mandolin patent example
Definition Writing Process
- Categorize item
- That vehicle is a boat.
- That vehicle is a canoe.
- AIDS is a disease.
- AIDS is a syndrome.
- Describe basic properties.
- A thermometer is a measuring device.
- A ruler is a measuring device.
- A beaker is a measuring device.
- A thermometer is a device for measuring temperature.
- That vehicle is a boat.
- That vehicle is a canoe.
- That vehicle is a birch-bark canoe.
- Eliminate subjective language.
- Dynamite is a terrorist tool.
- Dynamite is an incendiary tool.
- Plutonium is a weapon of mass destruction.
- Plutonium is a component for generating energy.
- Eliminate circular reasoning.
- A required course is a subject that is required.
- A required course is a subject whose study is required for graduation.
- A required course is a subject whose study is needed for graduation.
- A required course is a subject whose study is mandatory for graduation.
- Computer science is a major which involves programming computers.
- Computer science is a major which involves programming advanced adding machines.
Basic Definition Pattern
| Term | Category | Properties |
| X term | is a Y category | with properties A, B, and C. |
| IUP | is a college
is a university is a doctoral one university |
of medium size, funded by the state government, and offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. |
| Research | is a painful process
is an academic task |
involving locating information about a specific topic in journal articles and other sources. |
| A disk | is a computer device
is a storage device is a data storage device |
made of hard plastic and aluminum usually 1 1/4 inches in size. |