Feb 17, 2009

Synopsis? Wait....synapses? Synopsis.

A few years ago I misspoke and pronounced the word "synopsis" incorrectly. Ever since then I have had two things happen to me. First, Audrey has never let me live it down and continues to make fun of me for it. Second, every time I find myself about to say "synopsis" I use another word like overview, summary, or - since I'm an intellectual- abridgement because I'm afraid of saying synopsis. I mean synapsis. No. Wait................hang on. I need to check something.


Ok. My good buddies Merriam and Webster tell me it's synopsis. Anyway, I now have a phobia of saying the wrong one, synapsis. The reason I still have trouble with it is not because I am dim-witted. In fact, I am very intelligent. I believe I informed you of that fact 10 sentences ago. The reason is that when you say the word synapsis, it sounds like you're saying snapsis. And when things go by in a snap, it means things go by quickly. So, in my highly perspicacious mind the word synapsis makes sense because a synopsis is a quick overview, i.e. something you would tell in a snap. 

My reasoning for telling my loyal readers this is two-fold:

  1. When I say this you will fully understand where I'm coming from and decide not to make fun of me.
  2. To confuse you so that you can't remember which one is right so when I say it wrong you won't notice.

Good luck. And remember, it's synapsis.

1 comments:

jenny said...

Nope. I think I'll still say synopsis. Thanks though.

But while we're on this: One time I meant to say touché, but it came out "proché" ... And I couldn't correct myself. My family made fun of me for a long time, but now everyone just says "proché" instead. It's common jargon now. So maybe your synapsis will be the same way.

But probably not.