Words Matter. Truth Matters More.

In writing, as in speech, the right choice and combination of words can transmit ideas accurately and precisely, and convey tone and emotion, often resulting in comprehension, connection, and even action.

The wrong word choice, even a few degrees off of course, can confuse and obfuscate. When far astray, it will divert attention with unintended and even misguided consequences.

There's an old adage: words always obscure the truth.

Even the most well-written speeches in history were only a reflection of an idea. Of the truths, the oratory wished to convey. Words as crude tools used to replicate a core concept in a way that they could be understood by those to whom the idea was new.

Once we begin to try to articulate an idea, we distort it ever so slightly based on our limitations in vocabulary due to regional differences or when limited by speaking a second or third language.

Additionally, when we communicate something there is an inherent agenda or bias in how we tell it. We have an intended outcome in mind. That means our biases will consciously or subconsciously twist our words (and the truth) in a particular direction.

Nevertheless, a few approaches for narrowing the divide between what is said and what is meant include:

• Consider the audience and respect their cultural and vernacular nuances.
• Avoiding the use of vague words like "stuff", "things", and "interesting".
• Using strong, one-word verbs over phrasal verbs.
• Limiting clichés or using them sparingly.
• Use gender-inclusive language and call people what they want to be called.

Only silence fully honors truth, but sensitivity can go a long way to make the words matter most to those they reach. Perhaps for this reason, AI will never fully replicate human communication, at least not until it can replicate human empathy.