---
title: steelman — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «steelman» in the school dictionary: To steelman someone's argument is to describe it in its strongest, fairest form before you answer it, even if you disagree. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# steelman

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, someone, argument, steelman, other side, man · **What happens:** be, answer, disagree, argue, form, work · **To what, where:** strongest fairest form, argument, strongest version, man, steel, idea

<!-- .vabout -->
«steelman» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [steelman in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/steelman.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To steelman someone's argument is to describe it in its strongest, fairest form before you answer it, even if you disagree.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:m1:1
# text = To steelman someone's argument is to describe it in its strongest, fairest form before you answer it, even if you disagree.
1	To	to	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	steelman	steelman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
12	strongest	strong	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
14	fairest	fair	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	15	amod	_	_
15	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
16	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	answer	answer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	even	even	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
22	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
23	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	24	nsubj	_	_
24	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  | argument's strongest fairest form |  | to steelman; describe *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | present | you | argument |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 3 | **disagree** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **argue** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 5 | **form** |  | argument |  |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steelman is that strongest version of the other side's argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:m2:1
# text = A steelman is that strongest version of the other side's argument.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steelman	steelman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
5	strongest	strong	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	version	version	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steelman | strongest version |  |  |  | of the other side's argument | tree rules |
| 2 | **argue** |  | the other side |  |  |  |  |  | nom argument «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rare, old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steelman can also be a man who works making steel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:m3:1
# text = A steelman can also be a man who works making steel.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steelman	steelman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	steel	steel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a steelman | a man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | a man |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | gerund | a man *not said here* | steel |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset steel=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Before you disagree, try to steelman your friend's idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x1:1
# text = Before you disagree, try to steelman your friend's idea.
1	Before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	steelman	steelman	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **disagree** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **steelman** *not said to happen* | infinitive | you *not said here* | your friend's idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's steelman the argument for a longer school day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x2:1
# text = Let's steelman the argument for a longer school day.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	steelman	steelman	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **steelman** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | the argument |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She steelmanned the other team's point so well that they thanked her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x3:1
# text = She steelmanned the other team's point so well that they thanked her.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	steelmanned	steelmann	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	thanked	thank	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
13	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steelmann** | past | She | the other team's point |  |  |  | well *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **thank** *speech: thank* | past | they |  | her *= she* |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent she=Theme |
| 3 | **point** |  | the other team |  |  |  |  |  | nom point «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A straw man makes the other side look silly; a steelman makes it look its best.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x4:1
# text = A straw man makes the other side look silly; a steelman makes it look its best.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	straw	straw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	xcomp	_	_
9	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	steelman	steelman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	15	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a straw man | the other side |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | the other side *not said here* |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **make** | present | a steelman | side |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **look** | infinitive | side *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In our debate club we must steelman before we argue back.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x5:1
# text = In our debate club we must steelman before we argue back.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	debate	debate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	steelman	steelman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	argue	argue	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
11	back	back	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue back** *speech: disagree* | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you steelman why some people want to ban phones in schools?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x6:1
# text = Can you steelman why some people want to ban phones in schools?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	steelman	steelman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	ban	ban	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **ban** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | some people *not said here* | phones |  | schools |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer phone=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steelmanning helps you find the truth instead of just winning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:steelman:x7:1
# text = Steelmanning helps you find the truth instead of just winning.
1	Steelmanning	steelmanning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	10	mark	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Steelmanning | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **find** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truth=Topic |
| 3 | **win** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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