Google Saved my Reputation

A few years ago, google was nothing more than a really, really big number. But now? Now it is my yellow pages, encyclopedia, worksheet finder, and craft idea keeper, and housekeeper. Well, they haven’t introduced the housekeeping function. YET. They do, however, run my blog, picture organizer, and email systems.

But one of the best features of google? It doubles as a dictionary. Because I can’t spell. All I now do is start typing the word in google toolbar and the correct spelling pops up underneath. Saved my reputation a lot. Just yesterday I used it to see how many s’s and r’s are in embarrassment.

But google-as-dictionary has an even more important function. Type “define:word” and the word’s definition will come up. This is handy, because I mix up definitions A LOT. Like the time I was telling my friends about some urban legend wiji board party (only I called it an orgy party).

So the other day I was writing a comment and wanted to say something may be a faux pas {define:faux pas ~ a socially awkward or tactless act} Only I wanted a less snobby word, so I was using what I thought was a synonym {define: synonym ~ two words that mean the same thing} . Half way through the comment I decided I better double check the meaning of the word. Turns out the word was really an acronym {define:acronym~a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name} with a completely unrelated meaning. It stands for “Situation Normal. All #@*!&# Up”. That's right, not only was I about to put in a word that wouldn’t have made sense in the comment, I was about to unintentionally swear. Or at least allude to swearing {define allude~To refer to something indirectly or by suggestion} .

These situations are not uncommon for me. Just ask my husband. I probably look up a definition at least once a day (and normally I'm right, but there are those other times). So if I ever use a word that doesn’t make sense in the context {define: context~discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation}, please forgive me. I don’t mean to commit a faux pas, my brain language storage is just in a state of snafu.

I am a little disappointed. I thought snafu it was a double acronym (because every one knows that THAT bad word stands for Fornication Under the Crowned King), but Snopes has corrected me, I was wrong all along. That could have been embarassing embarrasing embbarrassing embarrassing!