kitchen table math, the sequel: Mark Twain on the almost-right word

Friday, February 25, 2011

Mark Twain on the almost-right word

My favorite saying about writing:
The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
- Letter to George Bainton, 10/15/1888
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3 comments:

MagisterGreen said...

"The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."

Brilliant. Every advocate of the new edition of Huck Finn - the one with the n----r replaced by "slave" - ought to be exposed to this gem from the man himself.

February 26, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Catherine Johnson said...

You're right!

Hadn't thought of that --- !

I feel the same way about Bibles with gender-neutral language. NO WAY!!!!

February 27, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Catherine Johnson said...

Speaking of which, and way off-topic, for a number of years when C. was little, we were singing the most dreadful hymns at church. Awful, awful, awful. One of them was so wretched that C. and I took to cutting up and snickering and such whenever we had to sing it.

After the pastor left, I learned that she had banned singing any hymn that referred to God as "He" or "Him" or, presumably, "Father."

That didn't leave much of a selection.

February 27, 2011 at 3:43 PM

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