This section serves to expand your regular vocabulary. What separates the men from the boys (or the women from the girls, if you want to equalize things) is v o c a b u l a r y. We cannot stress this point enough. People who have a larger vocabulary have been shown to make more money and get promoted more often.

G

gastronomic

(pronounced gas-treh-NAH-mik)

What HGTV has done for the public’s perception of interior design, The Food Network has done for the public’s awareness of cuisine. Gastronomy refers to the art and science of eating well, as well as interest in regional offerings and cooking techniques. Therefore, if someone describes himself as a gastronomic adventurer, you can bet that he reads the restaurant section of his local paper religiously.

Example: Geri, who always sought out the most exotic gastronomic experience she could afford, cringed at the thought of having to dine with her best client, who preferred Cheetos over Chèvre.

genre

(pronounced ZHAHN-ruh)

This word’s most precise definition is that of a realistic painting depicting scenes from everyday life. As defined a little less narrowly, it describes a particular category of creative pursuit (music, literature, dance, film, art, design, etc.), which is characterized by a specific style, form, or content. In its most broad interpretation, this word doubles for the words kind, type, or sort. The latter two definitions are most commonly used, but we mention the first because it is used in the art and antique world.

Example: That genre of architecture had always turned her off – it was too stark, too unwelcoming, and downright dangerous if one had little ones running around.

germane

(pronounced jer-MAYN)

Not to be confused with one of Michael Jackson’s many brothers or the 6’-5” NBA powerhouse. This “germane” is much less controversial and not even a noun. In fact, it’s an adjective that means being both appropriate and relevant to the situation. In another word: fitting.

Example: Daniel absolutely dreaded the Monday morning design briefing meetings when Jordan was in charge. Each session would inevitably drag on an extra hour while she insisted on discussing topics that were not germane to the projects at hand.

glean

(pronounced gleen)

A simple little word that means to find out, gather data or material a little bit at a time, or to search through for relevant information.

Example: After their brief series of programming meetings, Tim, the lead designer on the new corporate project, gleaned that the CEO was incredibly out of touch with the needs of his lead managers’ needs.

goad

(pronounced gohd)

A goad is actually the name of the pointed rod handlers use to get animals to move or act, whether on the ranch or in a circus ring. In everyday language, we use this word as a verb to mean to drive, spur, urge or motivate someone to action.

Example: Simon hated to micromanage his project team, but the construction documents for their newest corporate client absolutely had to be out for bid prior to the end of the month, so he sucked it up and used every trick in the book to goad his unmotivated group of designers.

gratis

(pronounced GRA-tis – the “a” sound being the same as in the word cat)

Simply put, this word means free / without charge.

Example: The landscape design firm decided to do the drawings for the orphanage’s playground gratis.

gravitas

(pronounced GRAH-veh-tahs)

A tip to remember the definition of this word: think of gravity. What does the Earth’s gravitational force do? It weighs us down, making us heavy so that we don’t go floating out into space. Similarly, gravitas is a heavy, substantial seriousness, whether in demeanor or in one’s approach to a situation, that weighs one down emotionally.

Example: The entire project team took immediate notice – growing quiet, still and immediately alarmed – when Jesse walked into the conference room, as her gravitas was palpable, not to mention incredibly out of character.