Do You Read Me? by Rob Kyff on Creators.com

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Do You Read Me?

The story goes that, when a famous author received a manuscript from an unknown writer, the big shot coyly wrote back, "Thank you. I shall waste no time in reading it."

Wait a minute. Did he mean he would read it as soon as he could — or that reading it would be a waste of his time?

For some odd reason, words related to the act of reading seem to create ambiguity. "Peruse," "scan," "leaf through" and even "legible" can convey contradictory meanings.

"Peruse" derives from the Middle English "perusen" (to use up), and traditionally it has meant "to read carefully, with attention to detail." Yet in recent decades, more and more people have been using "peruse" to mean its exact opposite — "to glance over, skim."

I have my own theory to explain this. Several other words beginning with the "per-" prefix denote a casual, offhand approach: "perfunctory," "perambulate," "peripheral," "peripatetic." "Peruse" simply SOUNDS relaxed. Just a hunch.

At any rate, some dictionaries now list both definitions, so "peruse" has essentially become a "contronym," a word with two opposite meanings. If you do use "peruse," make sure your context indicates whether you mean "scrutinize" or "skim."

"Scan" presents a similar dilemma.

Originally, "scan" meant "to examine thoroughly." When we scan lines of poetry, for instance, we study them closely to determine metrical structure.

Yet in recent years, "scan," like "peruse," has come to mean "to look over quickly," as in, "Jane scanned the newspaper for her photo." Usage expert Bryan Garner attributes this shift partly to the electronic scanner, which, he writes, "contributes to the idea of haste." (Apparently, his scanner is faster than mine.)

As with "peruse," be careful that your context makes clear which meaning of "scan" you intend.

And consider the seemingly innocent "leaf through." Does this phrase conjure up images of someone reading casually and superficially or of someone reading carefully and slowly? I'd lean toward the former, but there's also a suggestion of close examination.

And what about "legible"? If you told someone his handwriting was "legible," would that mean that it was highly readable, or that it was just above being "illegible"? Hmmmm …

When using words about reading, we often sound like stranded survivors on a two-way radio: "Do you read me?"

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to Wordguy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Rob Kyff and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.