At the beginning of each year I look forward to the Banished Words List from Lake Superior State University. This is a list of words or phrases that the wordsmiths at LSSU believe should be banished “from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse, and General Uselessness.” I always learn something about language and get several good laughs from their list. Words and phrases entering the region of the banished for 2007 include wordsmith, decimate, webinar, post-9/11, and perfect storm.
LSSU may need to consider adding the words literal and literally to their next list, or at least issuing a caution in the use of these words. One presidential contender caused some confusion about voters in
Since our duty as followers of Christ includes representing Him to the world and teaching other believers, we should strive to communicate clearly and accurately. We may not all be English scholars, but we can look up words in a dictionary or thesaurus and check some good books on usage. Syndicated columnist James J. Kilpatrick is very helpful for improving language skills. I don’t know if he still writes columns (he was born in 1920), but if your local newspaper carries him, read him. Or, obtain a copy of his book The Writer’s Art. He’s quite the wit.
Our purpose in using the right words is the same as in knowing biblical theology: to be sharp instruments in the hand of our wonderful Lord. “My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1).
Leave a comment and let us know of other resources in print or online that you’ve found helpful in improving linguistic skills. Making this effort is sure to decimate at least a tenth of our grammatical deficiencies!
A great reference book I'd recommend is Garner's Modern American Usage. Or, you can get a free usage tip each day for free via email. More details here: http://www.lawprose.org/subscribe_tips.php
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations! I signed up for his Tip of the Day. I'll have to get the book and some of the others that Bryan Garner has written. I definitely need a new Chicago Manual of Style. My copy is about twenty years old.
ReplyDeleteYou can subscribe to the Oxford English Dictionary word of the day here. It could be better, but you'll pick up a new word here and there. You can also sign up for the Mirriam-Webster word of the day here.
ReplyDeleteI sent an email to subscribe to the lawprose tips. That looks helpful.
BTW, nice post Tim. I was considering the annoyance of the word "literal" yesterday afternoon. It's too easily abused even in theological conversations.