Amy Sue Nathan

Words, glorious words

I admit it.  I’m a logophile. 

I have to admit something else.  I looked up that word before I wrote this post.

You know, I went to my search bar and typed in “someone who loves words.”  And LOGOPHILE is what appeared. 

And that I am.

But just because I love words and finding the right word to say the right thing gives me a buzz, and just because I would wear words strung together around my neck in lieu of pearls, doesn’t mean I can always tap the one I want when I want it.

So where do I get the good stuff when it’s lodged way deeper than the tip of my tongue or its no where near the pads of my fingers? 

I already mentioned The Flip Dictionary in another post.  Whew, just mentioning it makes me tingle. 

Then there’s the internet.  I’m big on verbosity when it comes to a search engine, so I’d likely type in “Word that means very hungry but not exactly.”  Amazing what comes up. 

I also love the handy-dandy thesaurus that’s built into Word, and how when that doozie of a program doesn’t recognize a word, it gives you the option to look in other references.  Right there while you’re typing.  Heaven on earth. 

I also use a very special technique employing state-the-art technology and a nudge from a game show.  I phone a friend, or more likely, I instant message a friend.  Classic me?  “What’s another word for being really annoying?”  And friend types back “Pester?”  I type “No, that’s not it.”  Friend types back “Bothering?”  I type back nothing because I’ve thought of the word I wanted and forgot to tell the friend.  Yes, I’m a favorite of those on my Buddy List.

Once in a while I pilfer. I hesitate to say plageurize because that’s something I’d never do.  But if someone I know is just, you know, talking…and says something in a way that sounds smooth to my ear, be it a word or a phrase, I hurry up and write it down and by gosh, I use it.  Sometimes I tell them and sometimes I don’t.  Sometimes it’s used in context and sometimes out of context, something I think non-writers have trouble understanding.  Say a friend was talking about a beautiful dress and I used the same phrase to describe a beautiful landscape or even a piece of artwork in a story — it’s my interpretation and re-use that is working for me.  And sometimes, I ask.  “Can I use that?”  It is free after all, so no one has ever said no.

I’m never content to walk away.  When I’m writing and that perfect word doesn’t come to me, the friends fail me and the reference books are not at arm’s reach, I write an adequate word or phrase in parentheses, so I know it’s just OK, but I’m not really feeling the love.  That way when I don’t get held up, and come back to rewrite or edit, I know that there is work to be done and and a kick-ass synonym to be found.

Just the thought of it gives me goosebumps!