These SAT words are the hardest for Michiganders
Amy HuschkaMichiganders are often perceived as persistent and resilient. So that doesn't explain why those three words are among the Top 10 hardest SAT words for Michigan, according to a new study.
The study, carried out by crossword experts at WordDB.com, sought to measure the difficulty of every word listed as an answer option in the Reading and Writing section of the most recent SAT practice tests. The researchers evaluated how much every state in the US searched on Google for the definition of 257 words featured in six SAT practice tests.
The study found:
- The hardest SAT words for Michiganders are "nuanced," "manifest," and "antecedent." This mirrors the Top 3 for Americans.
- Other confusing words for Michigan residents include "tentative," "ensured," "resilient" and "perceive."
- Every month, there is one online search for an SAT word definition for every 72 Michiganders.
The study found that "nuanced" is the most difficult SAT word for Michiganders and Americans with 134,483 monthly searches for its definition over the past year. As an adjective, WordDB.com defines it as "having nuances; possessed of multiple layers of detail, pattern or meaning," WordDB.com says.
"Manifest," which usually refers to something that is "evident to the senses, especially to the sight," is the second hardest SAT word for Michiganders and Americans, the study says. Every month, 117,350 in all US states search for its meaning, WordDB.com says. It takes the form of several parts of speech, and its second most common use is as a verb: "to manifest" means "to demonstrate."
"Antecedent" takes the third spot in the ranking for Michiganders and Americans, alike. Often confused with "precedent," which serves as an example from the past, an "antecedent" merely refers to something that has happened before, WordDB.com says. Americans searched for its definition 83,837 times a month, on average, the study says.
New research based on online search trends has also found that, every month, one in 72 Michiganders looks up an SAT word.
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The Top 10 SAT words people in Michigan struggle with the most are slightly different to the nation's top ten hardest terms to define.
The only changes between America's list and Michigan's is No. 10. Michigan's is "cordially." The nation's is "dynamic." And the placement of "ensured" and "perceive" are in different order. In the US listing, they appear as No. 7 and No. 9, respectively.
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Contact Amy Huschka: ahuschka@freepress.com or follow her on Twitter (@aetmanshuschka).