A Lesson in Grammar

Hi, kids! It's your old pal, Mr. Misanthropic McHater!


Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson that you'd better not forget, because I know where you live.


This lesson is called...


The Difference Betwixt "Awe" and "Aw"


There is one. Know it.


"Awe" is defined as "an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration; a mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might."


From this is derived the word "awesome," which is apparently the correct form of the word "awing" which my writing professor says isn't a word even though my computer and Microsoft Word both say it's okay, professor.




"Aw" is defined as "an expression of either disappointment or affection; a vowel coloration caused by a frequency-response peak centered around 450Hz. An "aw" coloration tends to emphasize and glamorize the sound of large brass instruments (trombone, tuba)."


This is the noise you make when something is cute, like a baby goat, or crappy, like finding out that you have to go to a family reunion (Aw, Mom! *sad face*).




So, pretty please, stop saying "Awe!" when you mean "Aw!" okay?