“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter: 'tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.”

What does it mean?

Choosing exactly the right word matters a lot. A word that is nearly right is as different from the right one as a small glowing insect is from a powerful flash of lightning.

Key vocabulary

'tis

an old short form of "it is"

lightning-bug

a firefly, a small insect that glows at night

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