Before we get into it, CYC stands by the Ukraine, as so many across the world have done. You can learn more about how you can help and where to donate on this regularly updated resource card, promoted by respected Ukrainian-Canadian journalist Jane Lytvynenko.



Welcome to The Writing Rundown, a weekly newsletter that offers writing advice, short essays, and reading suggestions to help you improve your craft. It’s nice to see you here! If someone forwarded you this email because they love your writing, you can subscribe here.

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

“Don’t gobblefunk around with words.” ― Roald Dahl, The BFG​

Elisa’s Thought for the Week

My friend Ryan asked a seemingly random and simple question on Twitter:

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Of course, when it comes to words, I rarely find questions simple. (I’m the girl who kept a word journal in high school of words I found interesting or new-to-me.)

The problem with definitions these days is that we have dumbed down so much of the English language. When looking up a synonym in a thesaurus, there can be a half-page word cloud of tangential possibilities.

We get lazy and use a word that kinda fits in a sentence, rather than pondering the word that exactly fits in a sentence.

With this question, it does make you stop for a moment to consider … is there a difference between a choice and a decision?

Of course there is! Right?

When I’m editing and giving feedback to writers on their word choice, I spend nearly as much time in an etymology dictionary as I do in a standard dictionary.

With this definition deathmatch, it was easier than I expected to understand the difference — and thus the best one to use (depending on the context):

  • Decision is from the Latin decidere (de- meaning “off” and caedere meaning “cut”)

  • Choice is from the Proto-Indo-European geus (meaning “to taste”)

Knowing these two word histories, you can give more meaning to each.

A decision is an outcome or result attained by cutting off all other options.
A choice is an outcome or result based on opinion or perception of what the best option would be.

Based on this, you should be able to determine which word will be the right word for the outcome you are describing.

Whether it’s a decision you make or a choice you select!

PS: Over the next week, I’ll be emailing you daily with some new and exciting things that are happening at CYC in April. Each day you’ll get some freebies, some discounts, and some other goodies for being a loyal TWR reader. 💙

What You Missed on Craft Your Content …

Our articles have the same mission we do — to help you to make your own words even better!

In Other Reading This Week …

Need more insights and inspiration for your writing and mindset?

  • In this piece by The Pudding, each regular paragraph is translated into plain text to help us understand what makes writing readable.

  • All writers love writing. Right? In this article by Kimberly Harrington, learn about a wildly popular writing alternative.

  • What’s the most riveting book you’ve discussed recently? In this reflection by Nate Meyvis on his site, find a tip on actually reading the book, originally recommended by Stew Fortier from Foster.

  • In this Literary Hub piece, writer Walker Caplan shares writing advice from two-time Pulitzer prize-winning author Colson Whitehead’s 60 Minutes interview.

  • As writers, standard marketing advice doesn’t always apply to our content. Which is why I really liked this article from Amanda Natividad over at Sparktoro about counterintuitive marketing strategies that actually work (we are big fans of #8 here at CYC!)

Weekly Writing Tip …

A quick chance to learn from the masters.

“That’s what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.” ― Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things

For the Upcoming Week …

Because we all need a good chuckle to start things off right!

I should just let that comma splice go, shouldn’t I?

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Till next time!

Elisa

What’s Coming Next Week? I’m talking about more word discussion, mostly about your values and some other crafty copy conversation.

PPS: Remember, over the next week, I’ll be emailing you daily with some new and exciting things that are happening at CYC in April. Each day you’ll get some freebies, some discounts, and some other goodies for being a loyal TWR reader. 💙