The L-Word

No, it's not lesbians. It's that even more taboo subject: 'Love'. *shudder*

'Love' is an almost unusable word. It is simultaneously overpowered, stale, and ambiguous.

We treat love almost exactly the way we treat profanity. Many of us bandy it about in speech. Some of us put it on a pedestal, treating it with the utmost regard. And we do not put it in writing. A novel-length story can probably handle three instances of 'love'. No matter how often we may say it ourselves, seeing it in print (and not in metawriting like this post) gives off a strong feeling that cannot be ignored.

Also like profanity, many of us are largely unimpressed with the word. It's said so often and it's even more acceptable to use in public. We can love everything, but when everything is either loved or hated, it makes for some incredibly boring prose. I love this song, this outfit, this hamburger, my wife, my dog. And this leads into the third problem.

There may be no word more ambiguous and subjective in its meaning than 'love'. I've heard the saying, "If you ask a hundred people for their definition of love, you would get a hundred different answers." Give it a shot. First of all, try to define love. Can you find an all-encompassing definition? Is there more than one kind of love? Do you love your child the same way you love Chinese food? And if you can define love, ask your friends for their definitions of love. See how well they sync up.

Of course, there are no absolutes. You can totally use 'love' if you want. Do it just right and it can make for a wonderful scene. But realize that it can be a total crapshoot in how it's received.