The Written Word

Everyone should know one creates sentences by using words. One can speak these sentences or words, and create verbal rhetoric, conversations. Another form of verbal communication is also oral stories. The misinterpretation of words and sentences occurs often, as the hearer hears what they want to hear. This is exactly how gossip starts. People use different words, add to the sentences, and place the emphasis on what they understood.

However, if one writes down these words and sentences, it is not only "verbal" as you read them, but changes to the words become a lot more difficult. The misinterpretation or interpretation of words in different ways is still possible. However, the author or writer could still explain, or qualify the words and sentences. The writing down of words and sentences is vital, as can be seen in the many clay tablets found in historic places. It becomes very difficult to misinterpret many words and sentences when found in written format. The written word, thus, becomes more permanent than verbal communication. 

A further difference between verbal communication and the written word is that the written word gives one more time to say what one needs to say. What one would like to say could fill several books, whereas verbal communication has a limited period – one can only say so much in a given time. More importantly, as mentioned, it is important to write down oral stories, especially if it comes straight from the horse's mouth. The stories would not become distorted or lack important facts.

The written word is extremely important, whether it is for the Internet – that is for digital purposes – or for printed books. It allows for permanency that the verbal word does not allow. What this simply relates to is that the writer of words is an important fixture in the world today. It is also for this reason that these people should be highly ethical, and write what is important, and write is truthful – except of course if it is fiction you are writing.