Don’t confuse the words “infamous”, “famous” and “notorious”. All three words mean to be well known. The most common mistake is to use all three as if they are interchangeable. The word “famous” means widely known and is used in relation to the accomplishment of important deeds or of renowned actions that are good or pleasant or helpful or admirable.

On the other hand “notorious” and “infamous” refer to being widely known for bad deeds or for having undesirable qualities. The Oxford dictionary also defines infamous as being wicked or abominable. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “notorious” as “widely and unfavorably known” and defines “infamous” as “having a reputation of the worst kind:  notoriously evil”. So while all three words describe the state of being widely known, the words “infamous” and “notorious” have connotations that make them different to plain old “famous”. You have to understand and be aware of the difference in usage of the three words.

The most common error seems to be that very often persons when speaking or writing will use “infamous” as a substitute for “famous”. Sometimes they also use “notorious” as a substitute for “famous”. You have to determine the reason for the fame. That is what would give you the clue to using each word correctly.

You can write:-

The captain who won the yacht race is famous for his superior sailing ability.

But you cannot write:-

Secretary was an infamous horse which won many races..

Here are some tips and sample sentences to help you use the words correctly. Sportsmen and athletes are described as famous when they are successful in their field or are exceptionally skilled.

Example: The famous footballer encouraged the young players to practise their skills.

A good cook can also be famous if her skills and dishes are exceptional.

Example: She was famous for her delicious stews.

Even a city or country can be famous for an admirable quality or feature.

The city of London is famous for its grand architecture.

When you use “infamous” or “notorious” a bad or evil quality is implied.

Example: The infamous pirate Blackbeard terrorised shipping in the West Indies.

Example: Chicago was notorious for its liquor smuggling during the Prohibition period. 

So although all three words mean well known or widely known remember that their connotations and usage are different. Do not confuse them.

Let’s work on it

How do you get children to write especially younger children about eight to twelve years old? If you could get them to read then getting them to write would be less of a problem. It is good advice to encourage more writing in order to cultivate writing skills. The more writing practice students get the better they will write eventually. But first you have to get them writing.

Have discussions before the writing starts

My experience as a tutor has revealed that if I have a discussion about the subject or area on which I want the students to write I get some interest. A discussion is also a way to discover how much knowledge your student has about the subject. Writing will depend on knowledge or feelings or opinion about a subject. Younger children may not have enough knowledge about many subject areas or even events. When you realise that the student does not know much about the topic, then the discussion allows you to help fill that gap.

Provide helpful resources

Prepare purposefully and lead your students to resources that give them information. An article from a newspaper can help and so can a video. Use examples or excerpts from books to share information. Of course it is best that your resources are examples of good writing and logical accurate information. The more opinions or writing that students are introduced to the more information they will have on which to base their opinions. Continue reading “Getting children to write”