Denotated or Denoted: Which Is Correct?

"Denotated" is a misspelling of "denoted," which means to indicate or represent something explicitly or to be a sign or symbol for something. It is often used when discussing the meaning or significance of words, signs, symbols, or gestures in a specific context.

For instance, the yellow color of the traffic light denoted that drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. That means the yellow traffic light symbolizes and represents slowing down on the road for drivers.

The misspelling "denotated" could have come about because people started mistakenly combining "denote" and "notated" into the misspelled "denotated." Although they share many letters, "denote" and "notate" are distinct words. The only correct past tense of "denote" is "denoted."

Examples sentences

The asterisk (*) denoted the key points in the document.
In ancient hieroglyphics, various symbols denoted different words or concepts.
The color red often denoted danger or caution in various cultures.
The plus sign (+) denoted addition in the mathematical equation.
Her raised eyebrow denoted surprise at the unexpected news.
The smiley face emoji denoted happiness or a friendly tone in the message.
The presence of footprints in the sand denoted that someone had walked there.
The blue ribbon denoted first place in the competition.
The symbol "π" denoted the mathematical constant pi.
In music notation, a sharp (♯) denoted a higher pitch for a note.

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