'Those Irritants That Get Into Our Shoes and Sting'

Yet again, an English word surprises me with its multiple meanings. A reader complimented the “scruples” I apply to writing. I thought I knew the meaning of that word but wanted to check. Dr. Johnson doesn’t include scruples in his Dictionary but for scrupulous he gives: “nicely doubtful; hard to satisfy in determinations of conscience.” For the singular form, scruple, the OED gives ten definitions, starting with: “A thought or circumstance that troubles the mind or conscience; a doubt, uncertainty or hesitation in regard to right and wrong, duty, propriety, etc.; esp. one which is regarded as over-refined or over-nice, or which causes a person to hesitate where others would be bolder to act.” Given that definition, I’ll accept the compliment. I look upon every word as a conscious choice. When I’m writing, especially simple subject-verb-object sentences, most words come automatically, at least through the first draft. I review what arrived without effort, read it aloud and decide what…