Word: erratic (adjective)

Associations

"Erratic" means something that is not regular, not steady, or unpredictable. It is often used to describe behavior, movement, or patterns that change a lot and don't follow a clear plan.

Examples:

• "His driving was erratic." – This means his driving was unpredictable and maybe dangerous.
• "The weather has been erratic this week." – The weather changes a lot and is not stable.
• "She has an erratic work schedule." – Her work hours are not regular or consistent.

Synonym: "unpredictable" Difference: "Erratic" often suggests irregularity or sudden changes, while "unpredictable" means you cannot guess what will happen next but does not always imply irregularity.

Substitution

You can use:

• unpredictable – focuses on not knowing what will happen next.
• irregular – focuses on not following a regular pattern.
• inconsistent – focuses on not being steady or reliable.

Example change:

• "His behavior was unpredictable." (similar meaning)
• "Her attendance is irregular." (focus on not regular)

Deconstruction

"Erratic" comes from Latin "erraticus," from "errare" meaning "to wander" or "to stray." The root shows the idea of moving away from a fixed path or pattern. There is no prefix or suffix here, but the whole word means "wandering" or "not steady."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone’s behavior was erratic? What happened?
• How would you describe erratic weather in your country?
• Can you use "erratic" to describe emotions or feelings? How?