Formal Definitions Guidelines for Writing Formal Definitions

The Structure of a Formal Definition Table 2 gives some guidelines for writing formal definitions.

A formal definition is a one-sentence explanation of the meaning of a word. When you Tabl e 2
write a formal definition, first assign the term to a class and then explain how it is Gu id eli n es fo r Fo rm al D efi niti ons
different from other members of the class.
Guidelines Examples

Be specific about the class. • A modem is a thing that… [vague]

• A modem is a device that…[specific]
T abl e 1 • A modem is an electronic device that… [more
P ar t s o f a For m al D ef in it i o n specific ]
Term Verb Class Distinguishing Characteristics
Use the same part of speech for • HTML is used when…[incorrect]
Modems are devices that make possible the transmission
the class as the word that is (noun) (passive verb)
of data to or from a computer via
being defined. • HTML is a code used when.. [correct]
telephone.
(noun) (noun)
Hypertext Mark- is a code used to make documents readable
Up Language across a variety of platforms and
Whenever possible, don't repeat • Hypertext Mark-up Language is a
(HTML) software.
the term in the class or language….[incorrect]
The Internet is a global system of that allows user-to-user distinguishing characteristics • Hypertext Mark-up Language is a code used
networked communication and transfer of data section. when…[correct]
computers files.
Make sure there is sufficient • A modem is a device that is used with a
Exercise 1 information in the adjective computer and a telephone. [insufficient]
clause to distinguish the term • A modem is a device that makes possible the
1. What do you notice about the grammar in the definitions in Table 1? from other members of the class. transmission of data to or from a computer via
2. Which verb tense is used? telephone. [sufficient]
3. What type of clause is used in "distinguishing characteristics?"

Avoid long words and long
sentences in technical writing. If
necessary, break the formal
definition into two sentences,
rather than producing a very long
sentence.
• The Internet, which is commonly confused with
the World Wide Web, is a global system of
networked computers that allows user-to-user
communication and transfer of data files from
one machine to another. The World Wide Web
is the concept for presenting and linking
information on a network.[too long]
• The Internet is a global system of networked
computers that allows user-to-user
communication and transfer of data files. It is
commonly confused with the World Wide Web,
a concept for presenting and linking
information on a network. [improved]

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Exercise 2 Revise these definitions to comply with the conventions for writing a Reduced Adjective Clauses in Definitions
formal definition. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives users access to the Internet. Technical writers should avoid wordiness. One way to eliminate unnecessary words is to reduce
adjective clauses. There are several important rules when doing this.
1. Unlimited service refers to the time a user wants to spend on the Internet.
2. A set-up fee is a fee that ISPs charge to begin an account.
3. Point to Point Protocol (PPP) is the most common type of dialup account that ISPs Ta bl e 3
provide because it is easy to use, especially if the modem is fast. R ul es f o r R ed u ci ng Ad j ec t i ve C l a u s es
4. Peak times are when many people are accessing the Internet.
Guidelines Examples
5. Flat rate accounts are a way to charge users.
Drop the relative pronoun and the • [adjective clause with an adjective]
The Grammar of Definitions verb be if the adjective clause An electronic book is a document that is lengthy
contains a prepositional phrase, enough to be considered a book.
Indefinite Articles an adjective, or a passive verb. => An electronic book is a document lengthy enough
to be considered a book.
Formal definitions commonly use indefinite articles for the term and class, forms of the • [adjective clause with a prepositional phrase]
verb be and an adjective clause or reduced adjective clause to express the An electronic book is a document that is on diskette
or hard drive.
distinguishing characteristics.
=> An electronic book is a document on diskette or
hard drive.
Exercise 3 Decide if a, an, or nothing [( )] is missing from these sentences. • [adjective clause with a passive verb]
A campus wide information system is an online
a) The Web is _____ enormous collection of HTML documents which are linked service that is used as a central source of
together over the Internet. information at a college or university.
b) Links are highlighted words which point to _____ additional information. => A campus wide information system is an online
c) A web browser is_____ special communications program that reads and interprets service used as a central source of information at a
HTML documents. college or university.
d) _____ web server is a computer program that responds to requests from Web
browsers
Reduce the adjective clause by changing the word or word form in these two situations:
e) ____ Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is an address that you feed Web browsers
1. The adjective clause • PPP is a method for connecting a personal computer
contains the verb have. that has a modem to the Internet.
Exercise 4 Reduce the following adjective clauses, where possible. Change the [Drop the relative pronoun => PPP is a method for connecting a personal
highlighted part of each sentence. If no reduction is possible, write no . and change have to computer having a modem to the Internet.
having.] => PPP is a method for connecting a personal
Ex.: The Oxford Text Archives is a database which contains electronic books in many or computer with a modem to the Internet.
different languages around the world. containing [Drop the relative pronoun
and have. Replace using
with.]
a)Search engines are not the same as directories. Search engines send out spiders that
create lists automatically.
2. The verb is in an active • Links are highlighted text that point to additional
b)Then users search through the lists the search engines have created. state and the relative information.
pronoun is the subject. => Links are highlighted text pointing to additional
c. If you change your web pages, it takes longer for search engines to find the changes, [Drop the relative pronoun information.
which may affect how you are listed. and change the verb to the
-ing form.]
d. Directories depend on short descriptions that are written for web sites.

e. A directory search looks for matches only in the descriptions that have been None of these rules apply to modal
auxiliary verbs, e.g., should, may,
submitted by the owners of the sites.
can, or must, since the meaning
of the modal is lost in the
f. Some search engines, which are called hybrids, maintain an associated directory. reduction.
• [original]
This information, which must be accessed via the
Internet, is useful.
• [reduced with different meaning]
This information, accessed via the Internet, is useful.

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 Exercice 10 Which word best completes the sentences below?
Classification Extended Definition
1.The field of electrical engineering can be divided into three main __________
Introduction Analyzing the “parts of an object” or concept is a useful way to
make the item clearer to the reader. Read this example of classifying in an extended components branches traits
definition.
2 .There are two _____________ to look for in an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
A Uniform Resource Locator, commonly called a URL, is an addressing system
which is used to identify sites on the Internet. A URL consists of four separate parts Features pieces segments
that together define the location of any file. The parts are the protocol, domain
name, path, and filename. 3.Their homepage includes three main _____: products, customer service, and
purchasing.
Exercise 8 Answer these questions about the text above.
Characteristics sections units
a) Which sentence is the formal definition?
b) What are the elements of the classification? 4.The computer consists of a number of ____________.
c) What key vocabulary is used to indicate classification?
Divisions components branches
The Language of Classification
5. A good search engine includes the following _____: speed, frequency in indexing, and
In the URL example in Exercise 8 above, "consists of" and "parts" were used to indicate review of relevant pages.
classification. There are a variety of words or phrases which have similar meanings.
Divisions components traits
Exercise 9a Rephrase "A URL consists of four separate parts" using the
structures given.
Exercise 10a Complete this classification definition of "hypertext" by choosing a word
a. include or phrase below. .
b. (can) be divided into
c. (can) be split into These consist of is a used
d. (can) be classified into
a) Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) _____ code _____ to make documents
Exercise 9b Before you do this exercise, look up these words in a dictionary. readable across a variety of platforms and software.
b) __________ codes are translated into specific formats to be displayed on the
• branch screen.
• characteristic c) These formats _____ but are not limited to links, lists, headings, titles, images,
• component forms, and maps.
• division
• feature
• pieces
• section Exercise 10b. In sentence "c" above, why didn't the writer give the number of formats?
• segment
• trait
• unit

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Exercice A
Can you remove any words in the following sentences without changing the meaning?
1 The planet that the astronomers observed is Saturn.
2 Invertebrates are animals that have no backbone.
3 The hospital was not satisfied with the nurse whom the doctor hired.
4 The food that you eat should be varied.
5 Iodine is an element that aids in the prevention of goiter.
6 A geologist notices the manner in which strata are deposit.
Exercice B
Writing Definitions
In academic work students are often expected to give definitions of key words and phrases in order
to demonstrate to their tutors that they understand these terms clearly. Academic writers generally,
however, define terms so that their readers understand exactly what is meant when certain key
terms are used. When important words are not clearly understood misinterpretation may result. In
fact, many disagreements (academic, legal, diplomatic, personal) arise as a result of different
interpretations of the same term. In academic writing, teachers and their students often have to
explore these differing interpretations before moving on to study a topic.

Can you remove any words or phrases in the following sentences without changing the Introductory phrases:
meaning?
1 One solvent that is used in dry cleaning is benzine. It is necessary here to clarify exactly what is meant by .....
This shows a need to be explicit about exactly what is meant by the word X.
2 A leaf that is growing on the left does not respond to light
X is a term frequently used in the literature, but to date there is no consensus about ......
3 A physicist who is at the CERN laboratory noticed the particle track.
4 The only water that is drinkable here is bottled water.
5 The pump that is the closest to the venturi valve has broken down twice.
Simple three-part definitions
6 Venus is a planet that is covered with clouds.
where knowledge is "produced" and
A university is an institution
Exercice C passed on to others.
1 The person who is responsible is the doctor who gave the injection.
2 The most distant object that is known in the universe is a quasar. [which is] concerned with the
Social Economics may be the branch of
3 Stars that are red are older than stars that are blue. measurement, causes and consequences
broadly defined as economics
4 The sentences that are italized must be included in the report. of social problems.
5 The computer is a system that is simple enough for a child to use which consists of three elements or
6 The liquid that is boiling in the Sewar jar is liquid helium. Research may be defined a systematic components: (1) a question, problem, or
7 The only theory that was possible did not account for all the data as process hypothesis, (2) data, and (3) analysis and
8 A problem that is in many pressurized-water nuclear reactors is the deterioration of interpretation of data.
steam-generator tubes. precede eruptions
9 Apnea is a sleep disorder that is characterized by frequent respiratory failure.
10Scientists who are studying volcanoes know that small earthquakes usually precede General meanings / application of meanings:
eruptions
The term X has come to be used to refer to ......
Exercice D The term X is generally understood to mean ......
The term X has been applied to situations where students ......
1 Nurses who live in infected areas should be inoculated.
In broad biological terms, X can be defined as any stimulus that is .......
2 The river that supplies water to the central valley contains small amounts of dioxin, a The broad use of the term X is sometimes equated with ......
known carcinogen. The term disease refers to a biological event characterised by .......
3 The animal that can run faster than any other is the cheetah. In the literature, the term tends to be used to refer to ......
4 Researchers that test new undersea cables prefer optical-fiber cables for long X can be defined as ...... It encompasses ......
distances.
5 The physicists who discovered radium and polonium in 1898 were Marie and Pierre Indicating difficulties in defining a term:
Curie.
In the field of language teaching, various definitions of fluency are found.
Fluency is a commonly used notion in language learning and yet it is a concept difficult to define
precisely.
A generally accepted definition of fluency is lacking.
Smith (2001) identified four abilities that might be subsumed under the term fluency: a) .....
The term poststructuralism embodies a multitude of concepts which ......

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Specifying terms that are used in an essay/thesis:

In this essay the term overseas student will be used in its broadest sense to refer to all students
who ......
Throughout this thesis, the term education is used to refer to informal systems as well as formal
systems.
While a variety of definitions of the term X have been suggested, this paper will use the definition
first suggested by Smith (1968) who saw it as .......
In this paper, the term that will be used to describe this phenomenon is X
In this dissertation the terms X and Y are used interchangeably to mean ......

Referring to people's definitions (author prominent):

Smith (1954) was apparently the first to use the term ......
Chomsky writes that a grammar is a 'device of some sort for producing the .....' (1957, p.11).
According to a definition provided by Smith (2001:23), fluency is 'the maximally ......
The term "fluency" is used by Smith (2001) to refer to ......
Smith (2001) uses the term "fluency" to refer to ......
For Smith (2001), fluency means/refers to .......
Macro-stabilisation policy is defined by Smith (2003: 119) as "......................"
Aristotle defines the imagination as "the movement which results upon an actual sensation."
The term "matter" is used by Aristotle in four overlapping senses. First, it is the underlying .......
Secondly, it is the potential which ......
Smith et al. (2002) have provided a new definition of health: "health is a state of being with
physical, cultural, psychological ....."

Referring to people's definitions (author non-prominent):

Validity is the degree to which an assessment process or device measures what it is intended to
measure (Smith et al., 1986)

Language

X is ...
X is called ...
X is known as ...
X may be defined as ...
X is a type of Y that/which ...
A type of Y which ... is X

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