The Word

Shades of gray

Or is it grey? Why we insist on finding differences

By Erin McKean

March 7, 2010

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Part of the fun of being interested in language is sorting through fine distinctions of meaning. Whether we’re playing the “I’m firm, you’re stubborn, he’s pig-headed” game, or just spending time finding what Flaubert called “le mot juste,” choosing which word we want to use can be like choosing the perfect crayon from a box of several million. (Full article: 880 words)