Two adjectives forming an antonymous pair are often in a privative opposition. The marked member designates one pole of the scale covered by the pair. The unmarked member may, in contrast, refer to the opposite pole. However, it may also refer to the scale in a generic way.

In order to verify whether one member of an antonymous pair may refer generically to the whole scale, one inserts them into a test frame that forces reference to the scale.

Test frame 1: Question for the position an object occupies on the scale

How __ is the object?

If the sentence may be used to inquire neutrally about the position of the object on the relevant scale, then the adjective occupying the slot is unmarked in the antonymous pair. With the other antonym, the sentence may then not be well-formed, or it may imply that the object is close to the pole designated by that adjective.

For instance:

How a) long / b) short is the skirt?

The version a) may be used to ask for the position of the skirt on the length scale. The version b) may also ask for the position of the skirt on the scale, but under the presupposition that the skirt is short. It thus limits the position asked for to the lower half of the scale.

Test frame 2: Formation of an abstract noun designating the scale

the [ __[X]_NR ]_N

where X is a morphological process converting an adjective into an abstract noun.

If the abstract noun may be used for generic reference to the entire scale, then the adjective occupying the slot is unmarked in the antonymous pair. With the other antonym, the abstract noun may not even exist, or it may imply that the object is close to the pole designated by that adjective.

For instance:

The a) length / b) shortness of the skirt is sufficient.

Version a) may be used to talk neutrally about the position of the skirt on the relevant scale. Version b) presupposes that the skirt is short, and thus talks about its position on the lower half of the scale.