Hardly a day goes by but this shortcut phrase is spoken and immediately the hearer translates the shortcut data as "twenty-four hours, seven days a week". Our society is pretty hip on such phrases or special dates to pigeon hole events. Columbus, 1492. The War of 1812. The Civil War (1861-1865). World Wars I and II. Those in the military detail such history in their own phrases. Nine-Eleven is the shortcut term we use to identify another atrocity committed against our country.

Such expressions might be termed "buzz words". Shortcuts can honestly be advantageous if the economy of words is essential or time is limited and the ways to do the job or duty in less time and such savings in procedures produce the desired results. In the military, the response, "Roger" was a short cut for an "affirmative" in radio communications. However, when it comes to communication, how much time do we really need to save by shortening otherwise descriptive and definitive words or phrases? On the light side, two love-birds never seem to be able to cut off their lengthy telephone conversations without saying "I love you" repeatedly – but ain’t love grand?

Shortcuts might be OK if we were so limited with time or space but it seems merely like buzz words rather than an economy of conversation. Are we in that big of a hurry? Is there something really so urgent we can’t take the extra seconds to express full thoughts or are we just trying to be hip or cool? Shortened phrases are even heard at church; youth devotions are now "devos", boy, didn’t we need to save those tenths of a second to spit out a word that sounds more like the fast-pace world spinning around. Ever hear the word "Scrips"? No it is not the Scripture but an abbreviated buzz word for prescriptions.

"With this ring, I thee endow and promise to…" Cut the chatter – "Twist it on – let’s move along." Saved four words! But somehow the sacredness and sincerity is just not there. OK, OK, maybe we could find a few new words but every contact in the day does not have to match speed reading.

THE WORDWRIGHT