Distinguish insensitivity, untidiness, and impropriety
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
A costume volunteer made a crass remark about another performer's limited wardrobe, turning a practical discussion into a personal slight. A slovenly bundle of costumes caused a separate problem because pieces were crumpled together and their labels had fallen off. The coordinator called the public mockery of a performer's wardrobe unseemly in a rehearsal devoted to respectful cooperation. She asked the group to separate the hurtful comment, the careless handling of materials, and the breach of the meeting's expectations before deciding how to correct each problem.
The crass remark needed an acknowledgment of its insensitivity, while the slovenly bundle needed sorting, relabeling, and more careful storage. An unseemly argument about who owned the best clothes would have prolonged the original breach instead of addressing the costume task. The coordinator returned attention to the missing labels and gave the performers a private opportunity to discuss the personal slight. The distinction helped the group describe what had happened without treating poor organization, social cruelty, and every possible disagreement as the same fault.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.