Writers. They’re so darn finicky about words. What’s the big deal? Why do they argue over every little change you try to make to your copy? Well, let’s examine the power of words.

Take for example the highly controversial “Global Warming” phenomenon. Right about now, most people around the world are probably saying, “Boy, that’s funny – this is the coldest I’ve ever been in January.” In most minds, “warming” means just that – that it will be warmer.

Of course “global warming” doesn’t really mean that every day of every year in every location is going to be warmer than it was before. What “global warming” actually means is that the climate is changing. And who in their right mind would argue with that?

These days you hear the term “climate change” a lot – but the damage has already been done. If Al Gore (et al) had just had a good writer around, they might have started the battle with the term “climate change” instead of “global warming” – and think how much further along in the discussion we could be as a planet if we hadn’t been arguing over the fact that it’s colder this winter than it was last year!