What to KnowA word’s denotation is its plain and direct meaning—its explicit meaning. A word’s connotation is what the word implies—that is, the nuances and shades of meaning that the word carries with it. The denotation of the word aroma is basically “smell”: the characteristic of something you perceive with your nose. But the word’s connotation is typically “a pleasant and pervasive smell.” People tend to apply the word aroma to coffee, for example, only if they like the smell.
Norman Conquest of a thousand years ago is to blame for this and many other pairs.)
In writing, you can choose a word that has a clear denotation and few connotations—a word like tall or quiet—or you can choose a word that connotes something more—like statuesque or tranquil. Your druthers, your choice, your connotations.
