II.2 Identify words that do not belong
What does it mean to categorize words?
Categorizing words means grouping words together because they share a common idea, feature, or theme. Identifying which word does not belong in a group helps sharpen your vocabulary and understanding of word relationships.
- Fruits: apple, banana, orange, carrot
- Vehicles: car, bicycle, bus, book
The word that does not belong is often called the odd one out or the intruder. Look for the common thread that connects most of the words.
How to identify the word that does not belong
Follow a clear thinking process to find the word that does not fit. First, identify the category. Then, check each word against it.
- Step 1: Find the common idea. Look at all the words. What do most of them have in common?
Example: hammer, nail, screw, saw, pillow. Most are tools. - Step 2: Test each word. Ask yourself, "Does this word fit the common idea?"
✓ Hammer is a tool.
✓ Nail is used with tools.
✓ Screw is used with tools.
✓ Saw is a tool.
✗ Pillow is not a tool. - Step 3: Choose the odd word. The word that does not fit the category is your answer: pillow.
The common idea is not always the first one you see. Think of all possible connections before deciding.
Types of categories to look for
Words can be grouped in many ways. Knowing common types of categories will help you solve these puzzles faster.
- Function or Use: Things used for writing (pen, pencil, marker, spoon)
- Part of Speech: Action words (run, jump, sing, happy)
- Location: Things found in a kitchen (refrigerator, stove, sink, tree)
- Classification: Types of animals (dog, cat, bird, chair)
- Material: Things made of metal (spoon, key, coin, newspaper)
Sometimes the category is specific, like "things that fly." Other times it is broad, like "living things."
Practice thinking with word groups
Try to name the category for a group of words. This practice helps you think like a word detective and prepares you for finding the intruder.
- Word Group: January, March, July, December
Category: Months of the year - Word Group: add, subtract, multiply, fraction
Category: Math operations (fraction is a concept, not an operation) - Word Group: eye, ear, nose, shoe
Category: Parts of the face (shoe is clothing)
If you can clearly state the category in your own words, you are on the right track to finding the word that does not belong.