Writing Tip 53: Yeah vs. Yay
“Yeah, it’s time to decorate for Christmas.”
How do you read this sentence? Is it full of enthusiasm or badly hidden chagrin? This isn’t a judgment of your holiday spirit. It’s a judgment of your spelling.
To answer the question: Scrooge McDuck was never so casual with his speech, but the above line is more fitting for him than for your child’s Elf on a Shelf. (Yes, I said “McDuck.” Sorry, Charles Dickens, but the old Disney version will always be my favorite.)
Remember:
Yeah – casual “yes”
Yay – vocalized jubilation
Yea – the opposite of “nay” (for Robert’s rules of order fans)
Got it? Good. Now have fun untangling the Christmas lights. It’s worth it. I promise.