I’ve never read that book, but I have good intentions of reading David Sedaris at some point. What I AM reading right now?
Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth.
Have you read this?
It is one of the many books I’ve bought in the bargain book isle because I knew objectively by the name of the author that it was “a good book” and that I should read it sometime.
So I started it. And I like it.
One thing that Edith has shown me so far is that her vocabulary makes me seem illiterate. She writes in such a way that each word is there on purpose. Every word is hand-picked from her impressive lexicon specifically for that sentence, and the whole thing flows perfectly.
I was an English major once, and I like to believe that at that point, I could write beautiful things, too. But then I was a Journalism major, and would you like to know the feedback I got on EVERY paper for the first two semesters after my switch to the cynical side?
“Good, but you still write like an English major.”
Me, writing a news story, was like David Archuleta singing Chris Brown. You know you remember that. Phrases drawn out waaaay too long, melody flowing a little too smoothly. Looking like a square Mormon kid. (And I can say that because I really am Mormon. In case I haven't mentioned that.)
Eventually I learned to keep it terse. Beauty in brevity. Just the facts, ma’am, but get the name of the dog. Always pick the shorter word. Write like you’re talking to a fifth grader.
All that. I did it.
And now I’ve been out of college for almost as long as I was in college, and some days, it’s a miracle if I can compose a single decent sentence.
My new goal? Speak so I sound intelligent but never become pretentious-sounding. I’m snobby enough without putting any elbow grease into it. NOT that I am saying that I’m in danger of being too intelligent for the people around me. I know lots of smart folks who will always be smarter than I am.
Anyway, to do this, there are certain words I need to banish from my vocabulary unless I’m being ironic, or they are actually the correct word to use.
First I will tackle “awesome.” I’ve hated this word for a while, and it’s time it was banished from my vernacular.
Buh-bye.
There are tons of words and phrases that I’ll need to rid myself of, but let’s start small.
What about you? Any filler words you’re trying to weed out?
7 comments:
i didn't like that book, but i'm glad you do.
i mean...i did not particularly adore that piece of literature, but i think it is quite lovely that you feel content about it.
I have not read Edith Wharton, but David Sedaris is excellent, especially if you get him on audiobook. I have only listened to "Me Talk Pretty One Day", but it's really great, especially for putting on the headphones on long bike rides and hikes.
Love the blog name-- brought me over here. Will be back for future posts :)
I am a HUGE David Sedaris fan! Love, love, love his stuff! That is a great book...be sure to check out Engulfed in Flames, too, his latest release. And definitely get an audio version so you can hear his voice. There is also a good youtube clip from when he went on David Letterman last year... check it out when you have time!
UGH.
I need to spring clean my vocabulary too. I tend to subconsciously pick a lame filler word as a favorite and use it in almost every sentence. Then a few weeks later, I shift and pick another one.
It's a mess, and my mom (the vocab/grammar queen) would probably be appalled.
I read a lot of Edith Wharton in college and I can't say that I remember a whole lot except for Age of Innocence and that's probably because a movie was made out of it. She was the first woman to win a Pulitzer prize, so she must have been pretty awesome. Sorry, I had to use that word.
As for words I am plucking from my vocabulary, "dude" is the first. I'm not saying it anymore. Ever.
You are deleting the word "awesome" from your vocabulary? Have you read 1984 with the so called Newspeak? One major point of that book is to slowly remove words from the vocabulary of the citizens, because the idea of a revolution would be much more difficult if words to describe it were no longer available to use (remove them from the dictionary and tell people to stop using them). Perhaps you are a bit Orwellian.
yes!! i hate the word, "horny"!!! it's ridiculous and i'm banishing it from my vocab too. thanks for the motivation!!
love your blog btw, been stalking for a couple months now. :)
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