When Bad Word Choice Happens to Good People

For writers, word choice is critical. Joseph Joubert wrote, "Words, like glass, obscure when they do not aid vision." Words are meant to convey meaning or illicit feelings in our readers. Words should clarify rather than obscure. Bad word choice can be detrimental, but it can also be hilarious.



While sitting in a worship service, a man stepped up to the pulpit to say a prayer. Like most everyone in attendance, I bowed my head and tried to focus on the words of the prayer instead of thinking ab...