Reading Theme:
Skew Meaning: Usage, Examples, and Common Mistakes (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：make slanted (skew)
skew
/skjuː/
vt.
To make something slanted, not straight or balanced, often causing an incorrect result.
make slanted
➕
/meɪk ˈslæntɪd/
vt.
To cause something to become slanted or not straight, resulting in a distorted or incorrect representation.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English *scēow* 'oblique' and Old French *eskiuer* 'to avoid'.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine a 'SK'ewer piercing food at an angle (SK = Slant Key). Or think 'skew' as 'squew' (squeeze + skew) — data gets squeezed off balance.
📖 Example
The way social media algorithms are designed can skew what information you see, showing you only content that matches your existing views.
The way social media algorithms are designed can skew what information you see, showing you only content that matches your existing views.
🔗 Collocations
skew the results – to manipulate results so that they are no longer accurate
skew the data – to alter data in a way that misleads
skew the perception – to distort how something is understood
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
straighten (vt.) – to make something straight or aligned
align (vt.) – to bring into proper or exact line
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
Skew has been used since the 14th century to mean 'turn aside'. In modern statistics, a 'skewed distribution' is a key concept; in media, it describes biased reporting. The word reflects how data or perspectives can be tilted off balance.
Meaning 2：present unfairly (skew)
skew
/skjuː/
vt.
To present information in a way that is not fair or accurate, favoring one side over another.
present unfairly
➕
/prɪˈzent ʌnˈfɛrli/
vt.
To present information in a way that is not fair or accurate, intentionally favoring one viewpoint over another.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Critics argued that the news report skewed the statistics to make the situation seem more alarming than it actually was.
Critics argued that the news report skewed the statistics to make the situation seem more alarming than it actually was.
🔗 Collocations
skew the coverage – to report news in a biased manner
skew the perception – to create a misleading impression of reality
skew the narrative – to control the story in favor of one side
🔄 Synonyms
bias (vt.) – to influence unfairly in favor of one side
prejudice (vt.) – to cause someone to have a biased opinion
manipulate (vt.) – to control information dishonestly to one's advantage
🚫 Antonyms
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