Those of us who write for a living, including journalists, advertising copywriters, lyricists and technical writers, all share a love of words and how they are used to convey an idea or an emotion.

We love the way words are put together and we cringe when they are used incorrectly. Most writers are also avid readers. We read everything in an effort to perfect our craft, including books, newspapers, magazines and advertisements, as well cereal boxes and the the news scroll at the bottom of the TV. And, while many enjoy reading news online or e-books, most of us like to hold the reading materials in our hands!

Many writers, myself included, love quotes. We buy books of quotes and those quote-of-the-day calendars. What is amazing about quotes is that one sentence or phrase that someone has said or written can be thought-provoking and inspiring. There are too many famous quotes to list, but Shakespeare has many of them, such as "All that glitters is not gold." Another one of the most quotable authors is Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said, "Life is a journey, not a destination."

Many people, whether they are writers or not, can name their favorite words. My favorite words have a lot to do with the French language and food. Some of my favorite words include hors d'oeuvres, which are appetizers, and accoutrements, which are elements of a side dish. One French cooking term that has recently become popular is a charcuterie board, which in my day was called a meat and cheese tray.

Where we live has some bearing on how we pronounce and use common words. Philadelphians usually root for the "Iggles," say Jersey instead of New Jersey and use "yo" as a greeting. And, like the Southern expression "y'all," locals will say "youse guys."

Pennsylvania also has some unique names for its towns and landmarks, which people not from the area have great difficulty in pronouncing, like the Schuylkill River, Bala Cynwyd, Manayunk and Conshohocken. In Chester County, there is Caln, Uwchlan, Knauertown, Pocopson and Tredyffrin.

Fictional businesses on TV use words to create memorable names for their establishments, like Central Perk on "Friends," Cafe Nervosa on "Frasier," The Lunch Box on "Roseanne" and of course, Cheers, referring to the fictional business.

Real-life businesses in Chester County have also found clever ways to name their businesses. Hair salons in Chester County include Shear To Please, Blondes to Brunettes, Shear Heaven and Twisted Scissors. Eateries in Chester County include the Couch Tomato Cafe and a coffee shop called Cup of Dreams.

Words can be unique, funny or intriuging, but can also be used to comfort a friend, to offer praise to a child or loved one or to provide encouragement to our friends and co-workers. And, like the quote by Canadian writer Robin Sharma says, "Words can inspire and words can destroy. Choose yours well."