So says a license plate I saw tonight. While stopped in rush hour traffic. 
And so it really is. But are my communication skills? As demonstrated, spelling isn’t always important for communication to occur – sometimes it is not integral to the transfer of concepts or exchanges of awareness. Atop the alternator aide, sum times its the own lee weigh too make cents of things.
The wrong word, used in the wrong place or at the wrong time, can often destroy all of the best placed most appropriate words belaying it. Or bracketing it. Or is it buttering it? See, spelling isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Word choice, however, is.
The person in that car in front of me could have said LFSOCKS / LFSUX / LIFSCKS. Yet – while perhaps appropriate for that place, that moment, that situation – life doesn’t really suck. Despite the stop-and-go traffic. The driver equally could have claimed SXSGOOD / JASGOOD / IMGOOD – all of which communicate quite different concepts and emotions with only the middle choice being of any real value. 
It’s about now you’re wondering what my point is, about now you’re considering skipping the remainder of this post and moving on to the next blog or site you have to catch up on. Go ahead. You have my permission. Why? Well, for one thing, you don’t need to read what I’m saying. Either you already have the skill to choose the correct word at the correct moment, or you’ve learned through trial and error that choosing the correct word is always the correct thing to do. Or could it be that choosing the correct thing to do is always the correct word? I’m not sure now.
Regardless, either you already know who important word choice is and don’t need me to remind you, or you don’t think it warrants all this attention, instead insisting hat whatever word you choose is the correct word where and when and how you use it. Something like ‘So I have spoken, so it shall be.’
Those of you still reading at this point are the one who haven’t learned but probably also haven’t thought much of it. Either that, or you’re the readers who’ve enjoyed my humor thus far and can’t bear to leave without finding the rest of it. To you I say ‘LFSGOOD, ain’t it!?’
Simple words, multiple words, complex words; multiple complex words. Terse, direct, active are all much better choices. Strong, clear – crisply clear – emphatic, ‘doing’ words. When Christ on the cross yelled/screamed/roared/stated/howled out at the cusp/apex/summit/acme of his sacrifice/replacement/offering/yielding and declared himself a worthy substitute to bear/sustain/handle/tolerate the punishment for all mankind’s sins/evils/transgressions/violations/wrongs he didn’t say, “It is over.”
He said, “It is finished.”
Teddy Roosevelt did not say, “Stride/strut/amble/march quietly/secretly/smoothly/tentatively and shoulder/bring/take/pack a significant/monstrous/ample/heavy rod/staff/pole/branch.”
He said, “Walk softly and carry a big stick.”
Clear, concise, concrete communication. My writing needs it just as much as my speech does. Confusing someone I’m speaking to is one thing, for I am there to dig myself out of the hole I put myself in; confusing my reader is quite another, for who will be there to rescue him/her?
Speak/write exactly what you want to say. One of the quickest ways to distance and disinterest someone to whom you’re speaking (verbally or in writing matters not) is to not be clear, to not be active, to not be personal, to not be exact. If I can convey an understanding of all these ingredients of language be it in my story’s dialogue, narrative, expositions, description, or action . . . it matters not if I say, “Wow! Right now is great!” or if I say LFSGOOD!
Related posts:
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
You took all those words to say, “Be concise.”
As Bill the Cat would say (in even fewer words then you’ve used):
“Thhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbtttttttt!”
http://www.code7r.org/inquiz/images/nip2.gif
Agreed. Word choice is a terribly important part of any kind of communication. I think one of the things I can never get across to my wife is the difference between “I’m sorry” and “I apologize”. There is a distinct difference between empathy and apology.
I think creative writing suffers a great deal from a lack of clear understanding behind the semantics and usage of a lot of the English language. Business, technical, and other writing suffers even more. I work in a field in which I see a host of terrible errors that are simple but detrimental to the work. It’s disappointing.
So . . . agreed.
Thanks for not pointing out my mistake of doing the opposite of what I was preaching, Boone
You also make an excellent point I did not distinguish above – the difference word choice makes in nonfiction writing. I’ve seen far too often the wrong words chosen in far too many business and technical writings. In fact, I’m currently editing our procedures manual here at work and it is taking much longer than anticipated. Granted, when I am typing here I am not typing there, but . . . .
Sometimes, Ty, in search of being ‘clever,’ people (okay, I) ramble much too long. As long as only do it in my personal speech and never in my prose, you can allow me that, can’t you?
WOW! Great post, HvonD!! You, my man, are very clever indeed. Me thinks there is a subtle message or two in there…
TY, you almost always make me laugh! And JBD, you make an EXCELLENT point about apologies. One word, one little word, can make ALL the difference.
LFSGREAT… YAY!!! COWBOYS!!!
Oh Babe, I just HAD to
Tam, glad I can make you laugh.
HvD, sometimes in search of being ‘clever,’ I am brief to the point of terseness. But sometimes I ramble. Shoot, you’ve seen my blog.
Tam – everyone laughs at Ty, er, I mean, Ty makes everyone laugh. Sorry ’bout that slip o’ the tongue there, Ty.
And Tam? You ain’t even funny at all. Not a bit.
I wasn’t trying to be funny ~ just HAPPY!!
But, alas, I know you are not, Poor Little Packer Fan
Go to work, young lady!
Just a note, HvD, your RSS feed is a little cloudy. Your blog postings aren’t showing up in Google Reader.
Wait, nm, I got confused between the main RSS feed and the comments feed…
Everyone laughs at Ty, huh?
Well, I would once more suggest pistols at dawn, but I don’t believe it would be fair. I’m sure your aim would be affected by your tears over your much beloved Packers.
Speaking of that, and the topic of this post, my illustrious supervisor here at work made the most unusual comment the other day. In an effort to ‘boost morale’ (so he claims), he sent an email around to all with accolades and accomplishments of each section. In one such section, he complimented the ‘dynamic duel’ of 2 certain individuals.
Needless to say, we’ve all been demanding to know the location and volunteering to be seconds. ;D