What is the difference between ‘old fashioned’ and ‘antiquated’? (Anil Surana, Jaipur)
One of the meanings the two words have in common is ‘not modern’, ‘outdated’. Unlike ‘old fashioned’, ‘antiquated’ carries with it a very negative meaning. When you say that a gadget is antiquated, it suggests that the gadget in question is so outdated, that in today’s world, it serves no purpose. It has been replaced by something much more efficient. You are being critical of it. For example, today the old audio compact cassette tapes and floppy discs would be considered antiquated - nobody uses them anymore. They are no longer fit for the purpose for which they were originally designed. Thanks to rapid advances in AI, some people believe that software engineers will become redundant soon.
The Government hospital is planning to replace the antiquated X-ray machines.
We need to change some of our antiquated laws.
When you refer to something as being ‘old fashioned’, it does not always have a negative connotation. For example, when one talks about ‘old fashioned values’, it suggests they are something which you are nostalgic about; something which you truly value. Unlike ‘antiquated’, ‘old fashioned’ suggests that something is charming. Something that is antiquated, usually needs to be replaced; old fashioned dresses can still be worn today. They may look dated, but are still functional.
Whenever Hema visits her grandmother, she jots down some old-fashioned recipes.
These old-fashioned houses are so cool during the summer.
What is the meaning of automania? (Banu Varma, Kochi)
The term has two very different meanings. In everyday contexts, we often shorten the word automobile to ‘auto’. When used in this manner, ‘automania’ refers to someone who is crazy or excessively enthusiastic about cars and driving fast.
As a teenager, Karthik had a severe case of automania.
The word ‘auto’ has another meaning as well; it can be used to refer to oneself. A person who has ‘automania’ is obsessed about himself; he is an egomaniac. He believes he is the most important person wherever he goes. He is very self-centred.
What is the meaning of ‘shoal of fish’? How is the word ‘shoal’ pronounced? (Kavitha Kumar, Vellore)
The ‘sh’ is like the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’, ‘sheep’ and ‘shy’, while the following ‘oa’ sounds like the ‘o’ in ‘go’ ‘so’ and ‘no’. The word rhymes with ‘pole’, ‘hole’ and ‘mole’. According to scholars, ‘shoal’ comes from the Old English ‘scolu’ meaning ‘crowd of fish’. Today, a large group of fish swimming together is frequently referred to as a ‘shoal of fish’ or a ‘school of fish’.
We saw several shoals of fish when we went snorkelling.
A shoal of piranhas tore apart the hapless victim in a matter of minutes.
‘Shoal’ can also be used with people. One can describe a large group of people as a ‘shoal of people’. We can use the word with things as well.
A shoal of the star’s fans made their way into the court.
The Minister received a shoal of angry letters from mothers.
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Published - August 17, 2026 07:25 am IST