Better English in Fewer Words

As we all know, English is a difficult language. Different letters and combinations of letters can represent many sounds. The same letters and combinations can be pronounced in different ways. This is a very inefficient system, taxing our education system, baffling non- native speakers.

It became obvious that readers and speakers need help and through observation, I have concluded that English can be greatly simplified because for most sentences, we need to use only six verbs: to be; to do, to get, to have, to go, to feel. These words contain the power of simplicity because they can be used in so many occasions where a multitude of verbs might be needed.

And no better example of efficient use of English can be found than advertisements I viewed while walking through New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. I looked in awe at two advertisements on the bus terminal walls. "There may be easier ways to get to the airport." and "The bus terminal just got a bit healthier."

Madison Avenue's great minds had come to the same realization. And many Americans have an innate understanding of this concept. They might say "I have a car. I have a cold. I have a way with words." Or, "I got the mumps. I got two dollars in my pocket. I got four years on probation." That's more economical than "I own a car. I am suffering from a cold. I can speak and write eloquently". Or "I am suffering from the mumps. I found two dollars in my pocket. I was sentenced to four years probation."

Phrases with "to go" are familiar to all. "I go to college." "I go to town every Friday night." "I go with the girl with the great legs." It's almost unnecessary to recount the uses of "to be". They are numerous, as in "I am sick."I am a Republican." "He is the greatest person I've ever known."

There are an equally large number of sentences that show the versatility of the verb "to feel".Thus we have "I feel sick." "I feel that health care should be publicly financed." "I feel the scales on your skin." Perhaps "to do" has fewer uses. Nevertheless, it can be inserted into enough sentences for inclusion. So we have "I do a lot of work." "I do a couple of guys a night."

These words live in the phrases of the great, from Martin Luther King's "I have a dream," to John F. Kennedy's "I am a Berliner", Richard Nixon's "I am not a crook" and Arnold Schwarzenegger's "I will be back."

And I urge readers to emulate their example. Go out and write fewer words, speak fewer words, hear fewer words.

And know their power.