Unicorns Are Not Unique, or No Such Thing as a Synonym

Unicorns Are Not Unique or No Such Thing as a Synonym

If you polled every student I have ever had in the classroom, I suspect one of the top three facts you would learn is this: “Mrs. Kalf doesn’t believe in synonyms.” I think they find this deliciously subversive in an English teacher. I only hope they also remember why.

A synonym, by definition, is a word that means the same thing as another word. I assert (and I am hardly unique in this) that such a claim is impossible. If the words meant the same thing … we wouldn’t have two of them. What makes language amazing is the shades of meaning each word carries. There is the denotative meaning—the one from the dictionary—but there are also the connotative meanings—the associations we build up around a word that inform the contexts in which it’s appropriate to be used.

Why is it a compliment to be smart, but not really to be crafty? Is a person who is shrewd necessarily quick-witted? Would a teacher describe a student as brainy? Would a fellow student describe that same student as bright?

Mark Twain famously wrote, “The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between lighting—and a lightning bug.”

If you’re searching for the right word, and can’t quite remember it, the thesaurus can be a help. Try on each of the offerings and see which fits. But never choose a word at random because it sounds impressive, and don’t ever use a word you are unfamiliar with. Imagine if you intended to compliment someone on how brilliant she was, and decided instead to allow your thesaurus to steer you to eggheaded?

Elementary teachers are often guilty of pointing students to “prettier” words—not necessarily more accurate words. I love Fancy Nancy as much as the next person, but we don’t use the word beautiful because it’s “fancier” than pretty. We use it because it’s stronger and conveys a particular impression. The bride at a wedding might be described as beautiful, while the flower girl would be described as pretty. Try switching them. It doesn’t work, does it?

Is every word truly unique? Perhaps not, but I think language is best served by acting as though it were.

(Photo by Mean Shadows on Unsplash)