I know the definition, but I can’t comprehend the concept of it. I couldn’t point out an instance of nuance in literature. What are “shades of meaning?”
Edit: Thank you all for the answers but I’m still not understanding. My brain doesn’t grasp certain concepts and it’s so frustrating. Maybe some context will help? I was debating with a friend whether or not humans are inherently selfish, and they said the answer is more nuanced than yes or no. Does that mean more specific? Why can’t I understand this concept 😭
In: 9
Nuance is a finer understanding of an intricate topic. You might tell an elementary school science student that “heat rises.” It does, but that’s not the whole picture. To have a nuanced understanding of convection would mean you know when hot fluids rise, when they don’t, and why in both cases.
Shades of meaning convey slightly different information. Just think of the words “scent,” “aroma,” and “stench.” A non-nuanced understanding would be that they all mean the same thing: a smell. They have different connotations though. “Scent” is pretty neutral. Maybe not strong, but noticeable somehow. An “aroma” is generally thought of as a good thing– a pie baking, or something else enjoyable. But a “stench” is a smell that’s powerful and repulsive. You want to be away from it as soon as possible.
So yeah. Some topics can be understood on a basic level and reveal hidden complexity the harder you look. That hidden complexity is nuance.
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