Throughout life, we go through phases of linguistic sense. When you are a child, you only use simple childish words that you have an easy time understanding. When some hit middle school, they begin to discover so-called “five-dollar” words. These extra-long words will get implemented into our lives, sometimes incorrectly, and we think ourselves smarter for it. In high school, if you are like me, a writer who began creating that young, you will do the same thing you did in middle school in your writing. You will attempt to shove these big or complicated words into sentences that don’t need them. Eventually, our linguistic palette matures, and we begin to actually understand these longer words and use them more and more seldomly.
This is often repeated as we read and write, discovering new and fun words along the way. These words are like cans of soda, though; you will use them until you’ve run out of enjoyment, and then move on to a different word that you find. Regularly used words are like a meal-prepped diet; they are consistent and don’t always bring great joy. Like eating broccoli, most words just don’t spark joy. Choose one to give up! See how long you can go, either in your next outline, short story, or creative endeavour, without using the word “have” or any of its tense-based counterparts. There are other words out there to describe owning something or controlling something, or doing something in the past.
If I had to choose a word that I use regularly to give up, I would choose “sick.” It is a classic word to describe something as “cool” or “radical.” To someone not in the know, however, it really means “disgusting,” “dangerous,” or even “wicked.” Much of how it is taken is in the tone of voice, but that does not often translate to text very well.
If you had to choose to give up a word that you use every day, what would it be? And why that one? Let me know below!