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Word of the Day: Finesse
Finesse is something you don’t notice until you see someone who has it.
In the Wednesday Email for subscribers, I introduced the phrase use a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Well, finesse is the exact opposite of that.
Finesse is the ability to deal with a situation or person skillfully and, at times, dishonestly or the skill of a craftsperson.
A person who has finesse (noun) can handle challenging situations very skillfully.
Think about how a salesperson can negotiate and manipulate a deal in a very delicate and artful way.
Yes, I said manipulate.
Sometimes being able to finesse (verb) a relationship involves not necessarily lying, but let’s call it bending the truth a little.
There is another nuance to the meaning of finesse that involves being able to craft things and show amazing skill in artistry.
An artisan can finesse whatever it is they work with to create the best products.
This is one of the reasons I named my company ArtisanEnglish.jp.
I chose the .jp domain to emphasize my company’s commitment and connection to Japan.
I wanted to help English language students become better at crafting sentences and finesse the grammar so that they can convey their ideas not only beautifully but also effectively.
Anybody can use vocabulary, just as anyone can use a hammer.
It takes a skillful person with finesse to create something beautiful.
For some, finesse comes naturally.
For most, finesse is acquired over time by gaining intimate knowledge of the intricate details of how different materials, or in the case of English, different words work and fit together.
It’s the process of crafting, which is just as important as the final product.
A good craftsperson can recognize and respectfully critique the work of others.
Some of my students are developing right now the intricate knowledge that will lead to finesse.
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Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 9th-grade education (age 15).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 59.
The higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100, the easier the passage is to read.