by Maisie Smith on August 14, 2014
I admit it. I am a recovering “limited vocabulary” addict. Out of the hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, I insisted upon using a particular one over and over again as a part of my everyday vernacular:
awesome
I used it to describe everything. Grandma’s coming to visit. “Awesome!” We found your favorite flavor of jelly beans at the store down the street. “Awesome!” Dinner will be 30 minutes late. “Awesome!”
I’d like to hold New Kids on the Block and Bop Magazine accountable for my dirty awesome habit. Can you blame an entire decade? If so, I’m looking at you, 1980s. You’re not so tough without your legwarmers.
What it really boils down to is this:
Society has become lazy.
So lazy that, out of the hundreds of thousands of exquisite words in the English language, we designate one word to describe… everything:
awesome
As a writer who has a daily love affair with my Thesaurus, I still find myself dropping an occasional A-bomb. Just this morning, someone told me, “I’ll get that to you later today.” And I responded back, “Awesome!” Ugh. Is it mind-blowingly phenomenal that a person will be getting back to me? Hardly.
I clenched my teeth right after saying it, laughed at myself for the slip and hopped back on the “let’s-start-using-original-and relevant-words” wagon.
Louis C.K. agrees. And I am shamelessly stealing borrowing his comedic sagacity to make a point.
“AS HUMANS, WE WASTE THE SHIT OUT OF OUR WORDS. IT’S SAD. WE USE WORDS LIKE “AWESOME” AND “WONDERFUL” LIKE THEY’RE CANDY. IT WAS AWESOME. REALLY? IT INSPIRED AWE? IT WAS WONDERFUL? ARE YOU SERIOUS? IT WAS FULL OF WONDER? YOU USE THE WORD “AMAZING” TO DESCRIBE A GODDAMN SANDWICH AT WENDY’S. WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, OR WHEN YOUR FIRST CHILD IS BORN? HOW WILL YOU DESCRIBE IT? YOU ALREADY WASTED “AMAZING” ON A FUCKING SANDWICH.”
Deep bows, Mr. C.K. You loosen the mind shackles like no other.
Let’s take a look at the actual definition of the world’s most famous default word.
awesome (adj.): causing or inducing awe; inspiring an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, or fear
“Awesome” is an appropriate word to describe:
sunsets, the Sistine Chapel, dinosaur bones, Bill Murray, the Grand Canyon, a newborn’s tiny fingernails and 93-year-old skydiving grandmothers
You know, stuff that truly blows our mind.
It should not be used to describe:
clever t-shirts, cereal, the most recent Godzilla movie, a dog on a skateboard, toenail polish or finding a quarter in the gumball machine.
Those things are good. Not awesome.
“Awesome” has lost its punch, its descriptive brilliance. It’s just another word that, sadly, holds little meaning.
We gloss over the word “awesome” like it’s last year’s prom dress–insignificant and musty.
Just a thought… maybe your new e-book/online course/service/thingamawhat isn’t awesome. This isn’t to say that it’s crap. It may be quite excellent. But does it induce awe? Is it stunning beyond words?
How else could you describe it? Is it:
Invaluable
Significant
Illuminating
Metamorphic
Radical
Cheeky
Adventurous
Stirring
Offbeat
Refreshing
Spirited
Heart-stirring
Wild
Fresh
Indomitable
Essential
Unmistakable
Maybe your business is the fucking bee’s knees. Maybe it allows people to rock out in the mosh pit of life. Say that! It’s time to stop calling everything “awesome” and start giving your words value.
“Amazing,” I’m coming for you next.
August 14, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Valentine Brkich
Awesome post. ; )
ReplyAugust 15, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Maisie
Thanks for the irony, Val. Stay cool.
ReplyAugust 14, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Beth
So guilty on this one. I even wrote a blog post titled “Everything is Awesome.” In my defense, everything was, truly, awesome. And I had the song from The LEGO Movie in my head. But I see your point.
ReplyAugust 15, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Maisie
Hi Beth! Thanks for the comment.
I wrote an essay not long ago entitled “How Ghosthunting Made Me Awesome.” So… yeah. I’m guilty of of it as well. 🙂
ReplyAugust 14, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Nicole
Ha! I love Louis CK so damn much.
Personally, I use the word “fabulous” waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much…in life, not in copy writing.
Great post. Excellent point.
ReplyAugust 15, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Maisie
Thanks for the comment, Nicole.
I love Louis CK, too. He is brilliant with words and is constantly challenging how I see the world.
“Fabulous”…. hmmm. I like to use “smashing” when describing things that are fabulous. It’s a surprisingly cool word.
ReplyAugust 14, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Devon
Love it!
ReplyI catch myself saying “perfect” too much. It’s my go-to expression of agreement. “Salt & Pepper on your sub m’am?” – Perfect. “We’ve confirmed your appointment for next Tuesday.” – Perfect. What happened to fine, or yes please, or thank you….?
No wonder I’m a recovering perfectionist!
August 15, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Maisie
Ah, “perfect.” Another good one. 🙂
Reply