#precise language

Have you ever struggled to find the right word to convey a specific idea or concept? In a world where language is constantly evolving, it can be tough to keep up with the latest terms and phrases. But precision in language is crucial for clear communication, and sometimes it takes a more uncommon word to get the job done.

In this post, we'll be introducing you to five uncommon words that can help you express yourself more precisely and accurately. Whether you're a writer, a speaker, or just someone who loves to learn new words, these terms are sure to expand your vocabulary and improve your communication skills.

Bricolage

Have you ever had to get creative in order to solve a problem or complete a task? If so, you've engaged in bricolage – a French word that refers to the process of using whatever resources are available to you in order to get the job done.

For example, if you're trying to fix a broken lamp and you don't have the right parts, you might use a paper clip, a rubber band, and a bit of tape to hold it together. That's bricolage in action!

Using the word bricolage can help you describe creative problem-solving or resourcefulness in a more precise and sophisticated way. And it's not just for household repairs – bricolage can apply to all sorts of situations, from business to art to politics.

Incisive

When you need to describe someone or something as sharp or insightful, the word incisive is the perfect choice. It comes from the Latin word "incidere," which means "to cut into," and it refers to the ability to cut through confusion and get to the heart of the matter.

For example, you might say that someone has an incisive mind, or that their comments were incisive and insightful. Or you could describe a piece of writing as incisive, if it cuts through the noise and gets to the point.

Using incisive in your language can help you convey a sense of clarity and precision. It's a great way to show that you've really thought something through and can see it clearly.

Ratiocination

If you want to describe logical, well-reasoned thought, look no further than ratiocination. This word comes from the Latin "ratio," which means "reason," and it refers to the process of using reason and logic to arrive at a conclusion.

For example, you might say that someone used ratiocination to solve a puzzle, or that their argument was based on ratiocination rather than emotion. Ratiocination is a great word to use when you want to show that you've thought something through carefully and come to a logical conclusion.

Apotheosis

Have you ever reached the peak or pinnacle of something? If so, you've achieved apotheosis. This word comes from the Greek "apotheoun," which means "to deify," and it refers to the act of elevating something to the level of a god or goddess.

For example, you might say that someone's success was the apotheosis of their career, or that a particular event was the apotheosis of their efforts. Using apotheosis can help you convey a sense of ultimate accomplishment or excellence – it's a way to really drive home the idea that something has reached its highest possible level.

Regimen

When you need to describe a systematic plan or course of action, the word regimen is the perfect choice. It comes from the Latin "regimen," which means "rule" or "governance," and it refers to the way that something is governed or regulated.

For example, you might say that someone is following a strict regimen in order to get in shape, or that a company has a well-organized regimen for handling customer complaints. Using regimen can help you convey a sense of structure and organization – it's a way to show that something is being done in a deliberate and consistent way.

Conclusion

We hope you've enjoyed this introduction to five uncommon words that can help you express yourself more precisely and accurately. Whether you're looking for a way to describe creative problem-solving, sharp insights, logical thinking, ultimate accomplishment, or a systematic plan, these words have you covered.

We think this is probably related to wanting to be precise rather than vague, which feels like an autism thing but we’re not entirely sure which trait it would fall under unless it’s just an internal rule about needing to communicate clearly.

Sometimes we blunder through trying to find that exact word to describe what we are talking about. This list of words provide the exact word for a particular situation. image: Vermilion Art dorveille: a dreamlike semi-conscious state like when falling asleep or waking up. foehn: a warm, dry wind coming off a mountain hyponopedia: learning while asleep through listening to taped…

People who ‘work hard’

When people talk about how hard they are working, I am led to wonder specifically what they mean. For some it means time spent. “I’ve been working really hard all day and didn’t get home until 8 pm”. Others refer to cognitive activity, or focused windows of time. Still others, depending on the nature of their role are referring to physical activity. My sense is that when people use the…

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The Simple Precision Of Language.

[Please note: I am on vacation this week and sharing one of my favorite posts from a few years ago. If it’s new to you, I hope you enjoy it. If you’re reading it for the second time, I hope you enjoy it again.]

Do you know how to read musical notation? If you do you know that when you’re reading music you’re actually reading at least two things simultaneously. Written music tells you what note to play and when to play it.

Written language, on the other hand, only tells you one thing – what letter to pronounce. Of course, punctuation helps indicate pacing – pause at a comma, stop at a period (I’m not really sure what to do at a semicolon) but it’s still up to the reader to interpret how the author wanted the piece paced.

For example, read the following sentences aloud and place the emphasis on the bold faced underlined word. You’ll see how the pacing, and the meaning, can change based on where you choose to place the emphasis.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

I didn’t say you should leave now.

Music notation is not like that. The composer provides the note to play, the time signature to play it in, the exact time each note should be played, the way the note should be attacked and the volume with which the note should be played. That’s why an entire orchestra can play a piece of music simultaneously and get it mostly right on their first reading. Of course the conductor can add flavorings and nuance, as can each player, but the basic structure still provides instructions for every part of the composition.

At the same time, musical notation has a way to allow the musician to add his or her own ideas, or improvisation, to the piece. Here the composer might suggest what the musician should play but also provides for the instrumentalists to create their own music and explore their own musical ideas by playing what they feel, and hopefully, what fits into the structure of what the rest of the ensemble is playing.

Ironically, written language, which doesn’t put nearly the same restraints on interpretation of prose, has no such flexibility. Sure, a rabbi or minister might halt their liturgical reading to allow parishioners to riff on a theme (they call it private mediation) but when was the last time you were reading a novel and the author inserted a few blank pages for you to add your own thoughts? There’s no room for readers to add their own words to a written piece.

That’s why sarcasm and irony seldom works well in print or static online advertising. It’s one thing for the copywriter to add their own inflection to a headline when they present it to a client but it’s quite another to expect a reader to add that same emphasis. Instead, the language of ads must be clear, simple, and to the point. Hopefully this will cause an emotional response without depending on a specific interpretive performance from the reader.

Imagine if Gershwin had e-mailed the lyrics of his famous song to his manager:

“You like potato and I like potato,

You like tomato and I like tomato,

Potato, potato, tomato, tomato,

Let’s call the whole thing off.”

Say what? Call the whole thing off just because we both like the same vegetables? Clearly something was lost in the transmission.

Remember Gershwin when you’re writing to be understood and when you’re writing to be influential. Your reader most certainly won’t read your text the way you want them to read it; instead they’ll bring their own pacing, emphasis, and meaning to your words. To build your brand value it’s important that your intention be so clear that your audience will internalize it no matter how they pace their reading.