I like words.

Words are like the raw ingredients for both bombs and chocolate souffle.

They cut, they burn, they soothe, they heal, they inspire — they give us cliche, overstatement, and bombast.

I like the sound of words like elucidate, onslaught, phylactery

I like the clarity of meaning in words and phrases like penultimate, oxymoron, limiting factor, critical mass.

The words whose misuse has been annoying me most lately are reticent, infer, and literally.

So… What words do you like the sound of? The clarity of meaning of?

What words would you like to hear people use more often?

Misuse less often?

All opinions welcome!

Cara
Cara King, author of MY LADY GAMESTER, which contains the word “phylactery”