Can anyone help me out?

Question

Hi. I have a problem about English. How can I tell diffrence between "markedly" and "prominently"? I think they are alsmot same.
The reason I ask about is that I fell into dilemma when I solve some pratice test for Toeic. Following question is the one that made me crazy.

Detour signs were ______ posted along the main route to the work site to prevent traffic from accidentally coming ino there.
a. observantly b. markedly c. imoprtantly d prominently

The book says "markedly" is correct answer, butI think "prominently" is right. what do you think? Please help me out~~

Toeic is an English test for people who use English as a second laungage.

Answer 1

d. prominently

I am a native English speaker, and even the way the question itself is worded is awkward.

I would say "Signs were posted prominently along the main route to detour traffic around the work site."

"WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]
markedly
adv : in a clearly noticeable manner; 'sales of luxury cars
dropped markedly.'"

"WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]
prominently
adv : in a prominent way; "the new car was prominently displayed
in the driveway" [syn: conspicuously]"

"WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]
prominent
adj 1: having a quality that thrusts itself into attention"

Answer 2

In the sentence:
Detour signs were ______ posted along the main route to the work site to prevent traffic from accidentally coming ino there.
a. observantly b. markedly c. imoprtantly d prominently

Markedly means clearly noticeable. For a sign to have its role in preventing traffic accidents, a sign must be clear and noticeable in a driver's view. The sentence suggests that the signs were clear and the drivers noticed them. Prominient do sound close - but it means well known actually, and it also means projected from the surface. Detour signs cannot be well known, and it may not necessarily project from the surface. Markedly is the suitable word.

Prominently would be used in a sentence like this:
Mrs. Royes was a prominent member of the Old Ladies Society of America; her donations and pledges have made a positive impact on the lives of the poor and the ill.

Besides, even though Prominent might be the "seemingly correct word", there is no hint in the sentence that it was projecting from any surface or line. Plus, something can stand out, but it does not have to be noticable in the view of the drivers - that object can be somewhere in view of OTHER persons, but not the drivers.

Note too that "conspicuously", which means easily seen, may be vague here - the sign may be easily seen - "yes, I do see a sign..." - but not necessarily seen - "... but what does it say?" If the sign was clear, then not only was it seen, but it clearly states what it suppose to state, that is "Detour" - "go this way, or else an accident can happen".

IN CONCLUSION: Yes, your book was right, it is Markedly.

That should be helpful...

Answer 3

Markedly is correct because the signs were clearly defined, noticeable to prevent the traffic from....... Prominently would be used to describe the signs being in place awhile and you are aware of their being there. But that is my opinion. The word Markedly is used a lot in the medical profession because some is obvious.

Answer 4

With English as my first language, I have to say that the English language kinda sucks sometimes. I would have went with "prominently" because I didn't even know "markedly" was a word. But it probably is "markedly" because the English language is really f***ed up.

Answer 5

Merriam Webster says "marked" means "having a distinctive or emphasized character". "prominent" means "standing out or projecting beyond a surface or line". By definition, signs on a roadway are already emphasizing something (in this case, the detour). The detour signs should be placed prominently, because the point is for people to notice them. Prominently would be the best answer. The books sometimes do have typos, but I would definitely pick prominently.

Answer 6

Without a doubt "Prominently" is the right word to use in the test phrase. This is "markedly" simple to deduce. Who the hell gave you the test to begin with. Back to School!!!

Answer 7

Prominently seems better to me than markedly in that sentence.

Answer 8

This is really stupid OK... I think prominently means like where they would be easy to see at the fore of things like that. markedly Iwould avoid but I would say that noticeable and at intervals (nothing about being in the fore of things) except that how else noticeable.

Answer 9

I agree with you that "prominently" is the correct answer. I would ask your teacher about it, it may just be a mistake in the book. The sentence has poor structure to begin with, so I would definitely question it.

Answer 10

I wouldnt think markedly was a word because its two endings. it would be like my cats have a scratchedly catpost.posted is the verb and you cant use adjectives on verbs can you?