Seldom-used Words

Welcome back. I'm diverting from my series on web writing to discuss a subject close to my heart, venerable words that are passing from the scene, words that some might call obsolete, and words largely replaced by more common cousins. Seldom-used words, if we remember to use them on occasion, can lend style, tone, depth and character to our writing.

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It is rare for writers or speakers to use ''seldom'' today. Today people use ''rare'' or ''rarely.'' The idea for this ExcitingWriting Advisory was sparked by Gina's mother, Zelma Whitlock, when Gina and I visited her last Christmas. She used the word ''seldom'' on several occasions. She caused me to realize I could present to my readers a bouquet of seldom-used words that would make a contemporary and appealing arrangement.

One might argue: ''seldom'' is good for artistic writing, novels, short stories and the like; but does not have application in business writing or speaking. I beg to differ. Imagine a CEO speaking at an investor conference saying, ''We have seldom seen these set of circumstances before.'' Now imagine the same CEO using the word ''rarely'' in the same sentence: ''We have rarely seen these set of circumstances before.'' ''Seldom'' adds gravitas without in any way adding fussiness or fastidiousness. I argue that it lends character and draws one in rather than puts one off.

The words ''hasty'' and ''rapid'' have largely been replaced by ''fast.'' The only place we see ''rapid'' used today is in conjunction with ''transit.'' I am in favor of using ''hast,'' ''hasty'' and ''rapid'' from time to time to add color and character to writing. Look at the difference in impression one gets from using the phrase ''rapid advancement'' instead of ''fast improvement.'' ''Rapid advancement'' sounds more distinguished, don't you agree? If one is against a proposal, suggesting that its implementation ''may be hasty'' calls up the expression we all know: ''Haste makes waste.'' This is a tactic often used by politicians, by the way.

The only places we see ''slender'' used today are in romances and in names of weight-reduction-dieting products. It's been replaced by ''thin'' and the less-often-used ''slim.'' But slender has lyrical possibilities when combined with the word ''thread.'' We've all heard the expression, ''holding on a by a slender thread.'' It could be used in business as well as in artistic applications. ''The business was just barely holding on to its slender profit margins,'' for example.

''Solemn'' has been replaced by ''serious,'' but should not be forgotten. Like the word ''seldom'' it comes from a different era, but can lend an august tone that borders on sacred and religious, when used properly.

''Assist'' and its cousin ''assistance'' have been put out to pasture by the word ''help,'' but in my opinion it can be a valuable word. ''Help'' gives the connotation that the person requiring the help is helpless. Not so much with the word ''assist.'' If you were in a store and a salesman or saleswoman came up to you asking, ''May I assist you?'' would you be more disposed to begin a conversation than if the person said, ''May I help you?'' A Nordstrom's salesman by the name of Jon taught me this when I sold women's shoes at Nordstrom's a few years ago. At the same time, we should not forget that the word ''assistance'' at one time was used to refer to social welfare. For some who grew up during those trying times that word can have uncomfortable associations. They would prefer to be helped rather than obtain assistance.

No one today uses the word ''pep'' even though the term ''pep rally'' and the brand name ''Pepto-Bismol'' derive from it. My father often used the word ''pep.'' No one has ''pep'' today. We have ''energy,'' ''vigor,'' or a sense of vitality. Perhaps there could still be life in the word ''pep.'' Do you agree?

A few others come to mind, like ''gorgeous,'' but they are not as interesting to me. I was once told that in the 1930s the word ''gorgeous'' was used much less than is today; that it was used exclusively by women. A male writer would never use the word, even to refer to a woman. I wonder if that is so. Gorgeous hasn't fallen out of usage; thus, using it doesn't lend any special style, in my opinion.

I am not suggesting that we attempt to resurrect old usages of words that have been forevermore changed from their 1930's meanings such as ''gay'' and ''swell.'' Gay used to mean festive; swell used to mean great or excellent. Those words have new meanings. Read Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald. You will find those words used with their old meanings.

I got the original idea for this EWA from Zelma Whitlock last Christmas (she gave me quite a gift), but it was confirmed for me just a few weeks ago when I read Rules of Civility, a novel by Amor Towles, which takes place in the late 1930s (a marvelous work; I highly recommend it) and when I briefly met Mr. Towles at a Dallas Museum of Art Arts & Letters event.

I am sure my ever helpful and unerringly smart readers will send me lists of seldom-used yet still esteemed words. To my mind, the trick is in finding largely forgotten words that communicate effectively without at the same time putting a distance between the communicator and audience. ''Fastidious'' need not apply.