I don't need the day, I don't need the knife

[brilligspoons]

Somewhat embarrassingly, I find myself having to look up word definitions more and more these days. And I don't mean for fun, or because I came across a really awesome-looking new word somewhere - I mean I have to check to make sure I'm using everyday, run-of-the-mill words and phrases correctly.

For example - as I'm trying to finish a particular scene this afternoon (spoiler: I'm not going to finish it, I'm slow as a snail at writing, la la la~), I type the following sentence:

Steve looks askance at both Pepper and Tony.

But I had to stop there, because is "askance" actually the word I'm looking for here? Does that word properly convey Steve's body language at this particular moment? Do I even fucking know what "askance" MEANS? The answer to all three questions, apparently, is/was no. And yet I've been reading big girl books since I was 8 - "askance" is definitely something I've come across before, possibly on thousands of occasions. If I saw it in a book, I'd know instinctually what it meant because it makes sense. But could I provide someone with an explanation of what "looking at someone askance" means?

Nope. I had NO IDEA that it's an adverb meaning with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval. And, in context, Steve was definitely not looking at Pepper and Tony like that - my brain just thought it sounded pretty. (Which it totally does. Sound pretty, I mean. I keep repeating it under my breath because I like it so much.)

Not gonna lie, I feel stupider than I usually do when this happens. Also a little bit like a failure (I threw 4 years and how much money into getting my degree????), but mostly I just facepalm at myself and try not to dwell.

In conclusion, the sky is blue, the grass is green, and words are still hard(er than they should be).

Comments

[paper-tzipporah.livejournal.com]

I think we should generally congratulate ourselves for having the common sense to look up these words when this happens, instead of willfully mis-using them because they sound pretty.

Seriously, I have to look up words all the time. Mostly I'm just glad I can Google "define: word" instead of lugging around a physical copy of the OED, or something.

[joirerson.livejournal.com]

Lol. It's ok, I didn't know you had to put helium in balloons to get them to stay up until I was 26.

And I love the word askance. Also, akimbo, for largely similar reasons.

[max-n-leo.livejournal.com]

I usually use them because they sound pretty and assume the person I'm talking to doesn't know the actual meaning either.

Or if I'm talking to you just ask you if I'm using it right.

Zeitgeist.

[imaplatypus.livejournal.com]

People like us who start reading big-girl books early often rely on context clues to understand what an author is saying. Which is useful, except for when the authors also don't know what words mean.

You're okay. I smish you. /smish

[brilligspoons.livejournal.com]

Although carrying around a copy of the OED and whipping it out at random times would be amusing. Just saying.

Also, can you bring me your discs of Slings & Arrows with you on Sunday? Netflix Instant doesn't have them available. :(

[brilligspoons.livejournal.com]

They're awesome words! Maybe the problem is that they're just not used very often in regular speech? IDK.

[brilligspoons.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, that accomplishes two things - makes you sound intelligent, and makes the other person feel foolish! :D?

[brilligspoons.livejournal.com]

*SMOOCH*