#1 We Can All Be Oscar Wilde
I am convinced that the average person in the street makes original and noteworthy phrases or sayings as clever and memorable as those by author, poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde. The difference being that Wilde got to be influential, his fine words were recorded and published, while the sometimes brilliant, original phrases of the person on the street are largely overlooked.
#2 Words Like Their Own Space
Every word likes to be special, to have its own space. Although words club together or collocate into phrases and sentences, frequently repeating the same word in writing can turn the nose of a reader. This is less the case in informal spoken language where repetitions are tolerated. Of course, grammatical words (think mortar) will appear more frequently than others in texts (e.g. the, and, be, I, you, etc.). Content words (think bricks) are key to what is being communicated and will stand out (see coffee in the word cloud image). However, even important content words are best served with plenty of space! Avoid close, repeated use unless for a clear rhetorical purpose.
#3 New or Changing Words
The meaning, use and even spelling of words can change over time. Butterfly, for example, has sometimes been called a ‘flutterby’. Such changes can be interesting and checking out earlier or alternative word forms and spellings can offer routes for a fresh description in both prose and poetry. The following may take your fancy: ‘Papillon’ (French) or Borbaletta (Portuguese). Also, neologisms (new words) are being created all the time. In any year there are hundreds if not thousands of them getting into dictionaries. Shakespeare, for example, created many new fabulous words such as swagger, outbreak, birthplace, bump, obscene, gloomy, majestic. Many of the words he created are still in use today.
#4 Rhyming Rules
The sounds of words and how they rhyme are important and we will all be familiar with this from our childhood learning, e.g. The Cat and the Fiddle. Rhymes are big in poetry and lyrics, of course, so if that is your thing, you will need to give this a lot of attention and consideration. But rhyming is also something to watch out for in prose. In writing prose, as with correct grammar, anxiety can be raised in striking the balance with words sounding the same, especially in close use or with an obvious rhythm. As in most things in life, moderation is key. To illustrate: If you write in a way that might cause a fight during the night you will soon get a fright.
#5 Dictionaries
When did you last consult a dictionary? Turning to dictionaries regularly will help you to build a rich vocabulary to draw upon in your future communication. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (published in 1755) is considered the first of its kind although there were plenty of earlier contenders and there are many different ones available to use today. Increasing your vocabulary and how best to use it takes time but is one of those investments of effort that pays off over the years.
#6 Emotion Versus Precision
Different kinds of writing demand particular phraseology and vocabulary. Using words that derive from Latin will be quite different in tone to those coming from an Old English, Middle English, or Germanic base. The split here is broadly between shorter words that are direct or straightforward (e.g. eat, happy, help) and longer, multisyllabic forms (e.g. consume, felicitous, assist). Long Latinate words will often appear in formal, academic writing. Overuse in spoken language will mark the speaker as intellectual, pretentious, or simply remote. While Latinate words can mark formal precision, shorter, non-Latinate words allow for expressing emotions, not least in poetry. Anger, fear, sadness, joy, disgust, surprise, trust, and anticipation are all served better with little words. If you don’t believe me try saying ‘I am incandescent!’ next time you stub your big toe.
#7 Reference Works
Aside from dictionaries there are many reference works that can help in our use of words. For example, there are multiple collections of idioms or proverbs (phrases that are not literal in meaning, often with a colourful and hidden past), and clichés (overused or unoriginal phrases). We have thesauruses (or thesauri) for similar words (synonyms) or their opposites (antonyms). There are also numerous grammar and usage books. The more purist of these will make you nervous to communicate at all! Don’t let this kind of reference work paralyse you from connecting with others in writing or speaking. My advice would be the same as with a topical steroid medication – use sparingly!
Paul Crawford’s latest novel, The Wonders of Doctor Bent, is available at Amazon, WHSmith, Foyles, Waterstones, Foyles, Cranthorpe Millner, and all good bookshops.
Author website: www.paulcrawfordauthor.com