Practical Intelligence: The Art and Science of Common Sense

Chapter 6. Mental Software Upgrade 3: Adopting Sane Language Habits

"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'

'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, which is to be master—that's all'"

—Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

ABRAHAM LINCOLN ENJOYED POSING A RIDDLE to his associates: "If you call the dog's tail a leg, how many legs does he have?" Most of them would answer "Five." Lincoln would reply, "No, he has four legs. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."

What's the difference between a "motorcycle club" and a "motorcycle gang"? What's the difference between ...