(On Word Misuse)
Many people have the penchant to misuse words, in the process twisting the meanings of such words and just resulting in more instances of misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
On Less and More
For example, when something is in excess, many people tend to say “sometimes, less is more,” when in fact the correct phrase to say is “sometimes, less is better” because “less will always be less” and “more will always be more”; but I understand what they mean, which is “less is not always bad” or “more is not always better.”
But still, “less could never be more.” Therefore, start using instead “less is better,” whenever it applies.
On Real and Not Real
When there are men who are exhibiting ill behaviors or bad attitude, some people will claim that these men are not real men.
When there are parents who are exhibiting bad parenting habits, some people will claim that these parents are not real parents.
When there are Filipinos who don’t know how to eat rice with viand using the hand, some people will claim that these Filipinos are not real Filipinos.
That’s incorrect. It’s only trying to set a false prerequisite that has discriminatory implications.
A man who is exhibiting an ill behavior or a bad attitude is still a man, although he is either a bad man or an ill-behaving man.
A parent who is exhibiting bad parenting habits is still a parent, only that s/he is a bad parent.
A Filipino who doesn’t know how to use the hand when eating rice and viand is still a Filipino; s/he just happened to be a Filipino who doesn’t know how to eat rice and viand with her hand.
The Last Leaf
When the primary purpose is communication, literal approach to language use will always be better than figurative approach, which has a higher probability for misinterpretation and misunderstanding.
