What do you write when you don’t know what to write? What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Where do you go when you don’t know where to go? What do you think when you don’t know what to think?
Such questions are puzzling me now.
I would have been well within my rights to write “such questions are puzzling me at this moment in time.” To most readers (I flatter myself that there are any) that would be perfectly fine and many would think it more eloquent. But is it necessary? Why the five words of “at this moment in time” when the simple single word “now” suffices?
I’ll “take the matter into consideration.” Or "think about it.”
We do love to slap on extra words — often long ones — in an effort to sound erudite. Raymond Chandler, Ernest Hemingway — to name but two esteemed writers — didn’t waste words. Each was precious and they saw no need for clutter.
In addition to excessive verbiage I’m also bothered by euphemisms, a curse of modern society. Classic examples include “passed away” and “we lost” in lieu of died. Some people can't even manage “passed away” and simply say that Aunt Martha “passed.” The question is did she pass gas or pass away? Perhaps she’s now a quarterback and passed the football. Lost is worse for me. If “we lost our Aunt Martha” the inevitable question is: are you still looking for her?
In most countries people “go to the toilet.” In the US that’s far too graphic and we go to the bathroom or restroom though no bathing or resting are about to happen.
I can’t recall where this happened but shortly after a lengthy stay in the UK I was back in the states and told someone I had to go to the toilet. By the look on their face you’d have thought I’d gone to the toilet right in front of them. Thereafter I made a point to say restroom. You simply don't want to offend delicate sensibilities.
Society has become sensitive to the feelings of others (except of course for those in the MAGA movement whose members celebrate their indifference to the suffering of others). This is well and good. (Why do we say “well and good”? Isn’t saying “good” enough?) Sometimes there’s overreach. Referring to someone as “fat” seems cruel but do we have to replace it with “big boned?” Is overweight so bad? Hearing impaired and sight impaired have replaced deaf and blind and I can’t imagine why. Unhoused for homeless seems bloody ridiculous.
Ever been running a little behind partially because you’re under the weather and you spaced out on the meeting? Or are you late because you’re sick and you forgot the meeting? Be careful because they might “let you go” which isn’t nearly as bad as being fired. Maybe you prefer being made redundant.
It would appear that I’m addressing the question posited at the beginning of this writing which was about what to write when you don’t know what to write. The answer is: anything. I suppose something is also a good answer. It may depend on whether you prefer something or anything. Could be related to whether you prefer somewhere to anywhere. Somewhere is a place though we don’t know where. Anywhere is any place and again we don’t know where. Just like somebody is an unknown person while anybody is any unknown person. Somebody sounds more specific. But barely.
I’m going to change the subject….
Every time you call any kind of physician's office for any reason you’re told that if this is a medical emergency you should hang up and dial 9-1-1. What do they think we are, a bunch of idiots? I’ve heard this when calling a psychiatrist’s office, dermatologist’s office and my GP. Do they really think that someone who’s having a heart attack or was just hit by a truck is going to call their dermatologist? Maybe it’s happened. We always have to account for morons.
By the way, last week I had my annual physical — nope, I’m sorry, it was a wellness check. Puhleeeze. I did not go see a physician, I saw my health care provider. Enough already.
I saw this the other day: “we are sadly going to have to say goodbye to….” Why do they have to do it sadly? Or is this a case in which they should have written: “sadly, we are going to have say goodbye to….” Which suggests that it a sad occasion and not that they have to write “sadly.”
I’m glad I could be of help.
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