In their timeless
Elements of Style, Strunk and write that “Anglo-Saxon is a livelier tongue than Latin, so use Anglo-Saxon words.” It’s good advice. (Sorry:
advice has Latin roots. Let’s try again.) It’s a good tip. The oldest English words are often short, strong, and easy to understand. They get your thoughts out there in a forthright, and yes, lively way.
But not everything in life calls for lively, earthy words. Sometimes the dreadful things we must suffer can seem a little less grim when they have the sweet ring nay, the
dulcet tones of euphonious polysyllabic Latin appellations. Notice, for example, the title of Strunk and White’s book. By using two words with Latin roots they’ve made something as unpleasant as a grammar and usage manual sound chic. Imagine if they had taken their own advice and called it
Joy Redoubled: Men, Loneliness, and Friendship
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