Over on twitter, Alma Alexander asks “What are the words that you’d banish from the Oxford English Dictionary?” The links lead on to an article on words that people would like to see dropped from English.

Personally though, I want more words, not less.

Every now and then when I’m writing I come to a point where I need a particular word. I know exactly the definition of that word. The only problem is, that word, so far as I know, doesn’t exist. So I have to write my way around it.

I think I’ll start keeping a list of those definitions. It will be like Jeopardy for dictionaries. I provide the definition, the dictionary produces for me a shiny new word, known to everyone, that perfectly communicates the nuance I’m striving for.

If only.

Posted on: Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 9:37 am
Categories: Writing.