Meaning & use
charleston
Last updated
Meanings
nounsingular
A lively dance of the 1920s with fast kicking steps, or the jazz music for it.
Grammar: Usually takes 'the': 'They danced the Charleston.'
Patterns
- dance the Charleston
- the Charleston was popular
My grandmother learned the Charleston when she was young.
The band played a Charleston, and everyone started kicking their legs.
In the 1920s the Charleston became a symbol of the modern young woman.
proper nounproper
A city and port in South Carolina, in the southeastern United States.
Grammar: Capitalized and used without 'the': 'Charleston is beautiful.'
Patterns
- live in Charleston
- fly to Charleston
She moved to Charleston to study history.
Charleston is known for its old houses and harbor.
Common combinations
- dance the Charleston
- They danced the Charleston all night at the party.
- the Charleston era
- The Charleston era brought new freedom in fashion.
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Charleston, South Carolina, attracts many tourists.
Commonly confused: charleston or Charlestown?
charleston vs Charlestown
Charlestown is a different place name, used for neighborhoods in Boston and other towns; Charleston is the city in South Carolina and the dance.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'charleston' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The dance name normally takes 'the': 'the Charleston'. 'A Charleston' suggests one instance but is less standard; 'danced Charleston' without 'the' sounds incomplete; and the possessive 'Charleston's' is wrong here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “charleston”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.