When we speak, we don't always give ourselves the time to consider if our words are exactly what we meant to say.
The other day I said to someone, 'I can't think while I'm talking,' meaning I had to be silent whilst thinking exactly what I wanted to convey. This person thought that was very funny, like an admission that I didn't think before speaking. Maybe, sometimes that's true, I'm not perfect! Converstions would be very slow moving if we considered every single word, checking if it was approriate or the best way to say it. Also impossible, since we often don't know how our words are being understood, interpreted or received.
However, with writing, we have the luxury of analysing every word for suitability, checking if it provides the right information and engenders the feelings that we hoped it would. I have included the phrase: 'hoped it would,' indicating, I think, that we will never get it 100% right all of the time for everyone, so a bit of tolerance is needed and welcomed. And tolerance means, 'permitted variation' in its broadest sense as well as 'indulgence' and 'endurabilty.' The English language, with all its nuances is still not always enough.
I hope you agree and find the right words as often as possible.
Comments