Basic Details
Word: Articulation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The clear saying of words and sounds, or the putting of an idea into words. In biology, it is also a joint where two bones meet.
Synonyms: pronunciation, expression, enunciation, joint
How to Spell Articulation
Syllables: ar - tic - u - la - tion
Tricky part: Drop the final e of articulate and add ion. The ending is tion, never sion or shun.
Watch out for: articulasion, articulateion, artikulation
Memory tip: Articulate loses its e and gains ion, the same step that turns educate into education and celebrate into celebration.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The drama teacher worked on our articulation so the last row could hear every word.
Example 2: The elbow is an articulation between the bone of the upper arm and the two bones of the forearm.
Example 3: Her calm articulation of the problem helped the team find a solution.
Fun Fact
Speech trainers often use tongue twisters such as red lorry, yellow lorry to sharpen articulation, because they force the tongue and lips to switch quickly between sounds.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words can drop its final e and take the suffix ion to make a real word. Choose it.
a) believe
b) articulate
c) arrive
d) admire
Show answer
b) articulate. Articulate becomes articulation; believe, arrive and admire make belief, arrival and admiration.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to articulation as used in the sentence:
The singer's articulation was so clear that we caught every line of the bhajan.
a) mumbling
b) silence
c) confusion
d) pronunciation
Show answer
d) pronunciation. Clear articulation is clear pronunciation of each sound.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
In the elocution competition the judges gave marks for confidence, content and articulasion, and the prize went to a shy girl from Class 7.
a) elocution
b) judges
c) articulasion
d) confidence
Show answer
c) articulasion. Like education, the word finishes with tion: articula-tion.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In biology, an articulation is a ____.
a) muscle
b) tooth
c) joint
d) nerve
Show answer
c) joint
2. What helps a speaker's articulation most?
a) speaking as fast as possible
b) saying each sound clearly
c) covering the mouth
d) whispering
Show answer
b) saying each sound clearly
