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How do we become more “economical” with our words?
What are your word’s worth?
What weight do they carry?
How many can you fit on the head of a pin?
These are all questions that go through the mind of a writer when they’re considering how to use words in their writing. Sometimes, economy is key. You want your words to work hard for you and carry as much weight as possible. Other times, though, you might want to let them loose and see what happens.
It all depends on the context and the message you’re trying to send. But, no matter what, it’s always important to think about your words and how you’re using them.
So, next time you sit down to write, ask yourself: What are my words worth? How can I use them to my advantage? What impact can they have?
I myself have always been quite liberal with my word-spending. That being said, you can’t just throw words at a sentence and hope that fixes it.
I thought of this subject of condensing our language while listening to an excerpt of Shakespeare’s Richard II in Act 3, Scene 2:
No matter where; of comfort no man speak:
Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;
Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes
