Superlatives: Start using ‘exalted’ says author

Story from Here and Now. Listen to audio above for full report.

Author, editor and wordsmith Arthur Plotnik grew sick of hearing and reading the same expressions of enthusiasm. So he decided to research and compile a volume of alternatives: “Better Than Great: A Plentitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives.”

“Superlatives confer extreme value on something, we need them to celebrate the worthiest things in our lives,” Plotnik explained on Here and Now. “When we use the same superlatives — awesome, amazing, unbelievable and incredible — we’re not celebrating anything.”

Substituting words like “stellar” or “exalted” says much more about how we feel about something, Plotnik says.

A list of superlatives to consider, along with an excerpt from Plotnik’s book, are available on the Here and Now website.

—————————————————————————

“Here and Now” is an essential midday news magazine for those who want the latest news and expanded conversation on today’s hot-button topics: public affairs, foreign policy, science and technology, the arts and more. More “Here and Now”.