Why We Practice Analogies
Practice with analogies develops proficiency in logic. To answer analogy questions correctly,
you analyze two words and identify the relationship between them; then you identify another pair
of words that has the same relationship. In addition, when you study analogies, you think about
the precise meanings of words and fix these definitions in your memory. Finally, studying word
analogies will help you to gain higher scores on national tests that include multiple-choice
analogy questions. The new Scholastic Aptitude Test-I Verbal Reasoning Test, for example,
includes analogy questions.
Understanding Word Analogies
A word analogy is a comparison between two pairs of words. Here’s how word analogies are
written.
Example 1
FIND : LOCATE :: lose : misplace
The colon (:) stands for the phrase “is related to.” Here’s how to read the relationships in
FIND [is related to] LOCATE
lose [is related to] misplace
The double colon [::] between the two pairs of words stands for the phrase “in the same way
that.” Here’s how to read the complete analogy:
FIND [is related to] LOCATE
[in the same way that]
lose [is related to] misplace
Here’s another way:
FIND is to LOCATE as lose is to misplace.
A properly constructed analogy, then, tells us that the relationship between the first pair of words
is the same as the relationship between the second pair of words. In Example 1, find and locate
are synonyms, just as lose and misplace are synonyms.
Let’s look at another example:
Example 2
GIFT : JOY :: grief : tears
What’s the relationship here? A gift causes joy, just as grief causes tears. A cause-and-effect
relationship links the two pairs of words in Example 2. To help you identify the relationship
expressed in analogies, we have designed the chart on the following page. No chart, of course,
could include all possible relationships between words, but these twelve relationships are
frequently presented. You should familiarize yourself with these relationships.
Relationship______
Example____________
Explanation____________________
Synonym
DRY : ARID ::
lost : mislaid
Dry is similar in meaning to arid, just as
lost is similar in meaning to mislaid.
Antonym
KIND : CRUEL ::
happy : sad
Kind is the opposite of cruel, just as happy
is the opposite of sad.
Part and Whole
CHAPTER : BOOK ::
fender : automobile
A chapter is a part of a book, just as a
fender is a part of an automobile.
POEM : STANZAS ::
play : acts
A poem is composed of stanzas, just as a
play is composed of acts.
Characteristic Quality
MIRROR : SMOOTH ::
sandpaper : rough
Mirrors are characteristically smooth, just
as sandpaper is characteristically rough.
Classification
POLKA : DANCE ::
frog : amphibian
A polka may be classified as a dance, just as
a frog may be classified as an amphibian.
BIRD : CARDINAL ::
House : igloo
A cardinal is classified as a bird, just as an
igloo is classified as a house.
Cause and Effect
GIFT : JOY ::
rain : flood
A gift can cause joy, just as rain can cause a
flood.
Function
KNIFE : CUT ::
shovel : dig
The function of a knife is to cut, just as the
function of a shovel is to dig.
Location
FISH : SEA ::
moose : forest
A fish can be found in the sea, just as a
moose can be found in a forest.
Degree
CHUCKLE : LAUGH ::
whimper : cry
Chuckle and laugh have similar meanings,
but differ in degree in the same way that
whimper and cry have similar meanings but
differ in degree.
Performer and Related
Object
CASHIER : CASH ::
plumber : pipe
A cashier works with cash, just as a
plumber work with pipe.
Performer and Related
Action
AUTHOR : WRITE ::
Chef : cook
You expect an author to write, just as you
expect a chef to cook.
Action and Related
Object
BOIL : EGG ::
throw : ball
You boil an egg, just as you throw a ball.
(In these items, the object always receives
the action.)
A PROCESS FOR SOLVING ANALOGIES
Your job in solving multiple-choice analogy questions is to identify the relationship between the
first two words and then to find the pair of words that has the most similar relationship. Here are
four hints to help you:
Hint #1. Eliminate choices that represent relationships that do not match the relationship between
the capitalized words.
Hint #2. Eliminate choices that have vague relationships. Remember, the original relationship
will always be clear. So, too, will the answer’s relationship.
Hint #3. Eliminate words pairs that express the same relationship as the capitalized pair, but
appear in the opposite word order.
Hint #4. If you can’t determine the relationship between two words, try reading them backward.
Remember that a cause-and-effect relationship, for example, exists whether the pair is written
Cause : Effect or Effect : Cause.
Here’s a process that will help you with analogy questions:
Answering Analogy Questions: A 3-Step Method
1. Identify the relationship between the capitalized pair of words.
2. Look for that relationship in the pairs of words in the answer choices. Eliminate those
that do not have that relationship.
3. Choose the pair of words whose relationship and word order match those of the
capitalized pair.
Let’s apply this pattern to a sample question in Example 3.
Example 3
FISH : SEA ::
(A) sun : star
(B) hero : villain
(C) moose : forest
(D) rocket : astronaut
(E) garage : car
1. Identify the relationship. It’s location; a fish can be found in the sea.
2. Eliminate choices. Choice A has a relationship of classification; the sun is a star. Choice
B has two opposites; hero is an antonym for villain. Choice D consists of a performer
(astronaut) and a related object (rocket). None of these choices match.
3. Choose the correct answer. Choices C and E both have location relationship: A moose
can be found in a forest, and a car can be found in a garage. But Choice E could only be
correct if the words appeared in the opposite order—car : garage. So Choice C must be
correct.
A FINAL WORD
Analogies are easier to tackle if you approach them with flexibility. Allow yourself to discover
the relationship between the first pair of words and to explore the relationships between the
words in the answer choices. Keep in mind that some words can represent more than one part of
speech and that most words have multiple meanings. Remember, these little verbal puzzles are a
test of your ability to demonstrate flexibility as well as logic.