'Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.' Henry James.
What are the most beautiful words in the English language? The answer to this subjective question will obviously vary from person to person depending, as it does, on the meaning, the sound, the context, and the connotation of the word or words in question.
'Words strain,
Crack and sometimes break, under the burden,
Under the tension, slip, slide, perish,
Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place,
Will not stay still.'
T.S. Eliot, 'Four Quartets'
And yet if you scan the works of the most fastidious and discerning writers you will find certain words that are almost universally accepted as 'beautiful'.
'You can stroke people with words.' F. Scott Fitzgerald, 'The Crack-Up'
Here is Part 1 of my list of 'beautiful' words. Are there any words you would remove from or add to this list? Let me know what you think.
autumn
beloved
blandishments
blossom
butterfly
cadence
caress
carol
champagne
chime
crimson
crystal
darling
dawn
delicious
delight
desolate
dream
dulcet
dusk
echo
eglantine
enchant
eternal
ethereal
glistening
goblet
golden
gossamer
harmony
harvest
idyllic
languid
languorous
laughter
love
lullaby
lustrous
magic
Email your suggestions for 'The Most Beautiful Words in The English Language' to: assignmentsplus1@aol.com
Gerard McLoughlin is the author of '15 hours To A Powerful English Vocabulary'.
To view this course, please visit assignmentsplus1@aol.com
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs a previous article ("Making Better Word Choices ? 4... Read More
It is satisfying to be a part of such a... Read More
What is this annoying, insidious angst that permeates my psyche?... Read More
Editorial guidelines, also known as writer's guidelines, are the rules... Read More
For many authors just starting out, it can be a... Read More
A QUERY LETTER is written to an editor or agent... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
Persisting With Bulldog Determination [Book excerpt from Successercising} by Rick... Read More
These are some of the snapshots I carry with me:... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
So you want to be a writer, except you don't... Read More
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer... Read More
Or do you?Writers write. You shouldn't wait around for inspiration... Read More
All sales begin with some form of advertising whether it's... Read More
About two weeks ago I received an article submissionthat immediately... Read More
Q: How do I expand on an idea without getting... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
Before I became a teacher, I was a sports writer.... Read More
No user manual? Surely you jest!It may seem comical, but... Read More
In reviewing and browsing web sites over the years, I... Read More
So you want to learn to research well, and not... Read More
Productivity begins by recognizing and valuing your brilliance, time, and... Read More
First, let's tackle the question that is uppermost in many... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
Rudolph Flesch, a pioneering advocate of readability, put great stock... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Sometime one must coax the words out.Each day is a... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
During the years that I've been teaching writing and participating... Read More
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented... Read More
There are a lot of tapes and books and CD... Read More
When a writer is working on their next literary masterpiece... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
A well-punctuated approach letter may make the difference between acceptance... Read More
How to Come Up with Fresh Story Ideas When Your... Read More
(excerpted from the "How to Use a Journal" audio series... Read More
May I tell you about a writing technique shared by... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
Freewriting is a release from the prison of rules. It... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
Mixing and mingling with industry professionals is an opportunity that... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
One day in the mid-1970's a young man stumbled into... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me when a prospective writer... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
People can't believe I did it, but I did. I... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
Over the past eight years or so, I have tutored... Read More
Calling all publishers, editors, journalists and freelance writers. It's time... Read More
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
Writers often get stuck because they make assumptions about writing,... Read More
Writing |