How important is it...?

Question

when trying to convey meaning or express ourselves, how important is it to choose the right words?

any examples?

Answer 1

Very important in my view:-

For example:-

It's OK to tell a woman she looks a vision,but woe betide you if you tell her she looks a sight!

Answer 2

oh goodness this is a complex question. i wrote a thesis on this topic.

one of the biggest issues for humans is how our vocabulary limits us.

it is very important to choose the right words for what you want to say.

here is why and don't hate me for using the Bible as an example:

words mean different things to different people. there has been a trend with Bible translations of late to make them Non-Gender. why? why would someone care if G-d is refered to as a he? or a she? or a father?

here's why, if you had a Father that beat you as a child the term Father means something different to you then it does to someone who was not abused. So for you to see your G-d as a Father figure may be detrimental to your faith. although the dictionary has a simple straight forward definition of what a father is, we as humans place emotional definitions on words and that makes it very important to relay the correct information using the best possible word.

G-d doesn't have to be a Father to someone abused but he can be a teacher and that would be an alternative translation.

this is what in philosophy they call Hermeneutics and polysemy.

Answer 3

if you choose wrong words -- people will get the wrong idea

so when you want some sugar, don't say "give me some salt"

:)