Have you ever heard the expression “happy as a clam” or “the light of my life”? I am sure you have because these are two commonly used metaphors. Metaphors allow us to compare something unfamiliar or complex, to something we are familiar with. We create these similarities in our mind to understand concepts better. Metaphors are used by doctors, seen on television, heard in everyday conversations and so many more places. However, metaphors are used so commonly that we have become blind to them. They are interwoven into our everyday language and without them, we would have a more difficult time comprehending and communicating. James Geary, Michael Erard and Dhruv Khullar have each published pieces that explore metaphors in different ways. Geary provides us the idea that by just changing one word in a metaphor, it can make it quite dangerous. Erard surprises us with the mention of a “metaphor designer” and the work that goes into creating them. Meanwhile, Khullar takes us into a medical environment and shares the concerns with using metaphors within them. However, all three pieces overlap in the idea that metaphors hold a substantial amount of power and can be interpreted differently depending on the person.

Have you ever heard the expression “happy as a clam” or “the light of my life”? I am sure you have because these are two commonly used metaphors. Metaphors allow us to compare something unfamiliar or complex, to something we are familiar with. We create these similarities in our mind to understand concepts better. Metaphors are used by doctors, seen on television, heard in everyday conversations and so many more places. However, metaphors are used so commonly that we have become blind to them. They are interwoven into our everyday language and without them, we would have a more difficult time comprehending and communicating. James Geary, Michael Erard and Dhruv Khullar have each published pieces that explore metaphors in different ways. Geary provides us the idea that by just changing one word in a metaphor, it can make it quite dangerous. Erard surprises us with the mention of a “metaphor designer” and the work that goes into creating them. Meanwhile, Khullar takes us into a medical environment and shares the concerns with using metaphors within them. However, all three pieces overlap in the idea that metaphors hold a substantial amount of power and can be interpreted differently depending on the person. The diction within these metaphors are extremely important in creating a successful metaphor. Although, the meanings of words can vary causing a complete change than the intention of the metaphor, causing more harm than good. This is why it is important for all people to be aware of the language they are using and the context in which it is being used in. These powerful words  need to be used with care, especially when talking to someone who is ill, because language can completely change an individual’s state of health. Which is why health care professionals need to be aware of this as they are constantly surrounded by ill individuals.