False Synonyms and Mistborn
This Week's Note
False Synonyms
Everyone knows that a synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word, for example, big and large. But even though we seem to understand what a synonym is we often give the label to undeserving pairings of words, and in doing so, create false synonyms. For added context, here’s a list of words that qualify:
- Hoping and praying
- Growing and changing
- Waiting and staying
Although identifying false synonyms may seem like a waste of time, wading through these murky waters is more than a practice in nerdish etymology. When we consider that hoping for a good outcome and praying for one are distinct actions we are forced to either follow through when we say “I’ll be praying for you” or concede that we are simply hoping the best for whoever we might have unintentionally lied to. Knowing the difference between growing and changing is being aware that changing is a by product associated with living organisms, whereas growing is often used as a metaphor for positive development. And finally, when we consider the difference between waiting and staying, we realize that waiting is temporal, and goal oriented as in “waiting in line.” On the other-hand staying is infinite and stretches into the unknown horizon, as in “staying in your marriage through thick and thin.”
Flagging false synonyms is not an exercise for the grammar police, or crossword extraordinaire. Patiently parsing through words is another tool in saying what we mean and meaning what we say. Which in our world filled with click-bait, cartoonish hyperbole, and intentionally obscured corporate lingo is a rare, and valuable resource.
This Week's Resource
The Mistborn Series from Brandon Sanderson.
I just finished reading the First Era Trilogy and the last 100 pages of The Hero of Ages is an absolute triumph of world building, story-telling, and prosaic prowess.
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