Hamilton County NY News: Why I write 2
I hope I'm stating the obvious but for those who have not thought about it, here goes.
We would not be able to think were it not for words.
We would have feelings without words. All animals have feelings. Their ability to express themselves is limited to some vocal sounds and "body language." But thought as we know it really does require words.
Humans with a limited vocabulary are limited in their thought process and their ability to communicate.
Tell the truth. Don't you just hate it when someone says, "You know what I mean?" Don't you want to say, "No. Would you please tell me."
Obviously, as a writer, I like words. Most often I don't have to search for the "right" word but sometimes do because I want to write or say what I mean. I want the reader to have the clearest idea possible. Without the right word and sometimes even with the right word, misunderstandings can quickly develop.
I think anyone who works with words or cares about words must have at least a bit of the philosophical in their nature. You know the wrong word can mislead and you know some words can create an intended or unintended emotional response. Just think of some perfectly good words, such as four letter words, and how they can send some people "all a twitter."
Laugh whenever you hear someone say, as I often do, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."
And it's not just the words themselves that convey meaning. Let's not forget their placement in a sentence. Let's not forget how modifiers can weaken or strengthen a word. Modifiers are also a way to sneak in opinion.
Here is a parting thought.
Writing is a former of creating a puzzle you hope the reader can correctly put together.
Labels: grammar, words, writing