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Dinosaurs Died Because They Couldn’t Swim
A Cute Story about Why Word Choice Makes a Difference in Your Writing
Well, that dinosaur thing is the logic of a new first-grader, my granddaughter, Mila. Here’s how we got to that conclusion.
Her eight-year-old brother, Max (now in third grade), and I were discussing why their new puppy, April, knew how to swim when she “accidentally” jumped in our lake last Saturday. The cutest-dog-ever launched herself into the lake from the boat and paddled around until we plucked her soggy, skinny Border-Doodle body out of the freezing water.
“Why do you think April knew how to swim?” I asked Max and Mila, hoping for a teachable moment.
Max, Mr. Smarty Pants, said, “She just knows. She was born that way.”
“Yes,” I said. “It’s instinct.”
Later that morning, Mila glanced at the Sunday paper I had spread on the kitchen counter. She pointed to the T. rex ad showing a local dinosaur exhibit.
“The dinosaurs are instinct,” she announced.
“Well, yes, but that’s extinct,” I noted. “Two different words.”
Blank stare.
“What do you think extinct means?” I tossed out to the peanut gallery, emphasizing the ex part of the word.
