My husband used to lecture our daughters and say, "Words mean something." It's true.

And now that I make my "living" with words, how they're used is even more precious to me.

I may have to change banks. The one I use has a sign (in most, if not all, the branches I've visited). It's prominently displayed at the front of the teller line.

"PLEASE HAVE YOUR TRANSACTION(S) COMPLETED BEFORE YOU REACH THE WINDOW"

Ummm... how is that possible when I need the teller's service to complete the transaction???

Now, I know they mean have the paperwork (deposit and/or withdrawal slips) completed by the time you reach a teller. But that's not what they say.

Irregardless, of intent, they shou-what? Oh, right. Irregardless is not a real word. I meant 'Regardless.'

There's a common quote from Mark Twain that writer's like to share: "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."

I sometimes make the quote my own and change it to butter and butterfly. But I always give Mark Twain credit.

What it comes back to is the same thing my girls rolled their eyes at for years: Words mean something. Or they ought to.