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4 ways of classifying definitions

General definitions (impersonal)

Present habitual tense:
  • sociologists refer to X to mean/signify
  • we use the term X to refer to
  • indicate
  • specify
  • The term X is used to define

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Personal definitions

Often specific to the text:
  • I/We shall use the term X to... (plus any of the above verbs)
  • By X I mean ...

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Attributed definitions

Either generalising about the source, or referring to a specific text:
  • Weber defines X as... .
  • refers to X as
  • uses the term X to refer to/denote
  • defines X as...
or
  • According to Weber, X is ...

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Circumstantial or contextual definitions
  • We use the term X when we....
  • if....
  • in (doing) Y
  • In X situation(s), X (generally) means Y
  • X is not (so much) Y as Z
  • X tends to mean Y
  • When we/people/... , we generally mean Y
  • If....,(for special cases) it tends to refer to Y
    •

    Advice: It is important to practice using these constructions, and look out for other examples in your reading.

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