Writers can be a bit persnickety about word choice. My search history is full of definitions to words I looked up just to sure of their full, actual meaning. Sometimes, I’m surprised to learn a word has a connotation I’d never considered. Which makes me rethink how I want to use it. At the moment, I’m considering the choice between two words: accept or embrace.
Denotation vs. Connotation
Before I get into the nuance of those words, let’s have a refresh on denotation and connotation. Denotation refers to the specific, explicit meaning of a word. In contrast, connotation refers to the implied or suggested meaning of a word.
By definition, a rose is a particular type of showy flower that grows on a particular type of shrub. That is its denotation. Yet people often associate roses with romance, which is a connotation of the word. Connotations can be tricky as they may have different meanings for different people. They also may change in subtle ways, such as a red rose meaning romance, while a yellow rose could mean friendship.
Accept or Embrace
Now, why am I hung up on the choice of accept or embrace? Well, I use the word accept a lot, especially when teaching yoga, and I have always considered it to be a positive word. Yet, a few months ago, someone mentioned that she doesn’t particularly like the word accept because it feels like settling or giving in to something you don’t really want.
Consider this phrase: “accept your body the way it is.” That might sound freeing or empowering to me, as if saying, “You are already wonderful and don’t need to change.” Someone else might hear the same words as if they mean, “You’ll never be better so you might as well just be the way you are.” Two very different messages!
What the Dictionary Says
According to Merriam-Webster, accept has several meanings. Here are a few:
- to receive (something offered) willingly
- to give admittance or approval to
- to endure without protest or reaction
- to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable
- to recognize as true : Believe
In those definitions, you can see shades of both of the connotations I described. On the positive side, it includes the idea of receiving willingly, giving approval, and recognizing as true. Yet, there are also some less feel-good words like enduring and inevitable.
In the time I’ve been considering this, I’ve shifted toward using embrace instead of accept, especially when I want to have a strong, empowering message. Is embrace a better choice?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary also offers several meanings for embrace. Here are a few:
- to clasp in the arms : Hug
- to take up especially readily or gladly
- to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole
I love the idea of readily and gladly taking in something as part of a more inclusive whole. In many cases, such as in talking about a person’s body and physical abilities, embrace may be a much better word to describe the message I want to convey. Yet I still think acceptance is a positive idea, and there are times when it may be the better word choice.
What Do You Think?
How do you feel about the idea of acceptance? Does it feel empowering or like settling? Do you have a strong feeling about using the words accept or embrace? If you’d like to share your thoughts, feel free to add a comment below.