The following is a conversation I had with my daughter upon picking her up from school:
MJ: How was your day, baby doll?
CJ: There was a funeral at school.
MJ: W-what?
CJ [smiling slyly]: A word funeral. [giggles]
MJ: A word funeral? Tell me about it.
CJ: Well, it was the fourth graders, and they were having a funeral for words that were used too much. They had to use better words in their place.
I didn’t recall my son doing this in 4th grade. I was intrigued.
MJ: What words did they bury?
CJ: Words like “big” and “fun” and “awesome.”
MJ: Really? And what words would you use instead?
CJ: Um, enormous and fabulous and…sublime.
She smiled because we both knew sublime was one she learned from the word of the day. She remembered! I’m so proud of her. I guess I should resurrect the word of the day posts.
As I was searching for an image to attach to this post, I came across this YouTube video for a Dead Words Funeral. Other schools are eulogizing overused words too. The video is adorable. Watch it if you have time.
I love this idea – need to have a dead words funeral for myself as well!
I should do this as well. I know I overuse awesome – but it flows out of my fingertips easily
I overuse words too. It’s easy to fall into the habit.