🎭 Janus Words in College Essays? Proceed with Caution. ⚠️
Did you know “sanction” can mean both to approve and to punish? Or that “oversight” might mean supervision or an error?
These are Janus words (aka contronyms, autoantonyms)—terms that contradict themselves. Like the Roman god Janus, they have two faces. 🗿
Why it matters: In college essays, clarity is king 👑. A misused Janus word can make your meaning fuzzy—or worse, flip it entirely.
🔍 Before you submit:
Watch out for words like cleave, dust, seed, left, trim.
Read aloud for context—does your word say what you mean?
Ask someone else to read it. A fresh pair of eyes catches ambiguity.
👊 Your story deserves to be heard clearly. Don’t let a two-faced word say the wrong thing.
🔗 Here’s a list of other contronyms.
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