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ImageSMART TALK

by Dr. Verbos Metikulos



NOTORIOUS: Here at the Center for English as a First Language, we've noticed an increasing use of notorious to mean well known in a positive way. If we were notorious for our treatment of Americans who don't know their own language, people might think we feed them to alligators. Instead, we're famous. Our patients speak and write clearly and concisely, and the nation knows it. That's famous.

Notorious - why do we have to explain this? - means well known in a negative way. Serial kills are notorious. Politicians are notorious. Osama bin Laden was notorious.

Famous is well known in a positive way. Nelson Mandela is famous. Captain Sullenburger became instantly famous for safely landing a disabled airliner in the Hudson River. Toni Morrison is a famous author.

Notorious doesn't mean simply noteworthy, as some who claim to be native speakers seem to think. You don't want notoriety. Strive for fame.



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