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I've always liked the word swell.

Swell.

It's a good word. It's sassy and optimistic, yet has a certain vintage charm.

Why don't we use it anymore? In a culture where we're obsessed with recapturing the past, where we swill martinis and swing dance (or, at least, admire the Gap commercials where they use swing dancers) and snap up the vintage push button phones that Pottery Barn sells, why aren't we also embracing the language of a bygone era?

Such as:

That's swell.

Or:

I think you're swell, kid.

See? It's a good word. Better than cheesy, which my generation is credited with for bringing into general usage. Better than bitchin'. Better than gnarly.

Swell.

Try it out. You'll like it.

Posted 23 July 2005 at 07:16 PM