The result was initially labeled country-and-western rhythm and blues, but it became known as rockabilly despite the mostly derogatory connotation of the word hillbilly.
The shift is supposed to put more attention on the victims in the photos and to eliminate the commercial connotation of the word "pornography".
Bowling alleys are called bowling centers by people in the business -- to avoid the politically incorrect connotation of the word alley.
"It's imperative for us to look sharp and fresh, so there's no negative connotation of the word 'used,' " Mr. Lynch said.
William Safire (On Language, July 31) notes the religious connotation of the word "desecrate" and its misuse in the proposed amendment to the Constitution intended to protect the American flag.
Katherine Crisantos, a 4-year-old girl from Brooklyn, loved the connotation of the word Friday, because it meant a trip with her big sister to Burger King for fries and soda.
Indeed, this article is an in-depth chronicle of the travails of the Hormel company to survive "the greatest marketing challenge in its 75-year history," the association of its premier brand with the universally negative connotation of the word spam.
Maybe we'll shorten it to The MTVCDD? Let's admit that within 10 years the chief connotation of the word "viral" will have nothing to do with biology and will primarily stand for what is steadily becoming the pinnacle of human achievement and state of being that is every post-millennial's greatest desire.
To people who are unfamiliar with computers, Gates is just a nerd, and if you try to get them to square the negative connotation of the word "nerd" with Gates' incredible success, and with the fact that, far from being on the margin of society, Gates is now in a position to determine what society is like, they're likely to say, "Well, I guess it really is the revenge of the nerds".
