On “Inside the Actor’s Studio” host James Lipton always ends the show with 10 questions, one of which is, “What is your favorite word?” I think this was supposed to be a clever question, but for writers it’s actually a great question. I think if you’re a writer you necessarily LOOOOOVE words!
Currently my favorite words are the ones with sort of unexpected spellings: continuum, rhythm (no vowels!), limn; zucchini. I can’t say why exactly, but my mouth waters a little as I type out these words. Maybe it’s because I know how to spell them. Limn in particular delights me. A variant of the Middle English word luminen–to illuminate. Ahhhh.
Q4U- So do you find yourself relishing particular words? What are they? Do you have any idea why you like them?
My favorite words? Depends on whether I’m saying them, reading them, thinking them or hearing them. I like “new” words and limn is new to me.
This is on my “planned blog post” list too! Yes! I have favorite words!
Sycamore…gossamer…esplanade…these are just of many. You would think that it’s the “s” sound but I assure you that “Slytherin” gives me the creeps just as it creeps out millions of Harry Potter readers. So it’s not that. And I also love detritus…purview….verdant….so who knows! Sound has something to do with it, but not all…
Oh, esplanade–love that one! I used to do PR for a historic home that has an esplanade of tulip poplars. If only they had been sycamores . . .
Oh nice post. Queue, gargoyle, cadence, saskatchewan, tomorrow, ubiquitous — these are words that my brain has fun sounding out and seeing images for. it’s weird but you’ll understand as a fellow word geek. 😉
Remember the billboards that just had the one word, “ubiquitous” on them? They were supposed to sell the space. Don’t know if it worked, but I loved seeing UBIQUITOUS in giant letters along the highway.
I never saw a billboard like that. Was it a NC thing? Love saying that word and people always look at me like I’m from outer space (OR a foreign country!)