Priced to Move

Eight words about worth, and how to weigh it.

Meet each word one at a time, then take the quiz to lock them in.

1. 1 quantity noun
2. 2 section noun
3. 3 magnify verb
4. 4 convince verb
5. 5 priceless adjective
6. 6 worthless adjective
7. 7 previously adverb
8. 8 briefly adverb

Nelson's word

noun

Quantity. A noun. I file it under how much or how many of a thing you have. A small quantity of salt, a large quantity of visitors, a quantity too big to count by hand: each one names an amount. It is the answer to the question how much, stated as a number or a measure. When a recipe calls for a certain quantity of sugar, it is telling you the amount, no more and no less. State it precisely, and you will never over-pour again.

The baker measured the exact quantity of flour before she began.

Nelson's word

noun

Section. A noun, and mine, naming one part of a larger whole. The front section of the newspaper, a section of the orchestra, the produce section of the store: each is a piece cut cleanly from something bigger. I file it near part and portion. But keep an eye on this word, because it does not always sit still. Hand it to Vinny and it springs into action: the workers section off the field, meaning they divide it into parts. Same word, two jobs. We sort those hats in Practice.

She read the sports section of the paper before anything else.

Vinny's word

verb

Magnify! To take something small, something the eye can barely catch, and make it look BIGGER so the whole world can see it! When the lens magnifies the insect, every leg and every hair leaps into view. That is the verb, and it is mine, and it is a heroic act: nothing too tiny to matter should stay hidden. A magnifying glass magnifies the print on the page; a good storyteller magnifies the moment that counts. Learn this word, and you can make the small things loom large.

The lens magnifies the tiny insect until every leg shows.

Vinny's word

verb

Convince! To reach into another person's mind and turn a no into a yes, a doubt into belief! When the coach convinces the team, the players walk onto the field sure of themselves at last. That is the verb, and it is mine, and it takes more than volume; it takes good reasons, offered with heart. You convince a friend to try the new food, you convince a jury with the evidence, you convince yourself to keep going. Master this word, and your reasons will win people over.

The coach convinces the nervous team that they can win.

Jake's word

adjective

Priceless. Oh, this is a wonderful one, and it is mine. As an adjective, priceless describes a thing so valuable that no price could ever be fair: a priceless painting, a priceless memory, the priceless look on a friend's face. Watch how it is built: price, plus the ending less, meaning without. Without a price, because it is worth more than any number. Could we be more specific than saying a gift was special? We could call it priceless, and mean it could never be bought. Magnifique.

The old photograph of her grandparents was priceless to the family.

Jake's word

adjective

Worthless. An adjective, and mine, describing a thing with no value at all: a worthless coupon that has expired, a worthless ticket for a train that never comes. Look at how it is built, the same way priceless is built: worth, plus the ending less, meaning without. Without worth. Here is the wonder of it, though. Priceless means worth more than any price, and worthless means worth nothing, yet both wear the same ending. The root word makes all the difference. Could we be more specific than saying a thing was bad? We could say it was worthless, and mean it was worth nothing at all.

The broken clasp made the necklace worthless to the jeweler.

Benny's word

adverb

Previously. An adverb, and I own it the way Nelson owns his nouns. It tells you when something happened: at an earlier time, before the moment you are talking about now. The building previously housed a bakery. She had previously visited the city once, years ago. Here is my coaching, and I want the best for you: previously points backward, to a then that came before this now. When you want the reader to feel the before-and-after, previously does the work in a single word. Make your timeline sharp, and previously is one of your best tools.

The store previously sold books, but now it sells shoes.

Benny's word

adverb

Briefly. An adverb, and mine to coach. It tells you how long: for a short time, and no longer. She spoke briefly and sat down. The power flickered briefly, then held. Here is the push, and I give it because I know you can meet it: briefly is the opposite of at length. When a thing happens fast and then is gone, briefly is the word that says so without a single wasted syllable. You want your writing tight? Briefly is on your side. Make every word count, and this one counts double.

The sun appeared briefly before the clouds rolled back in.