It drives me insane when an author titles an article Why something is the case when they really mean “How” something came to be or “What” we’ve decided to call it.
labels + instructions ≠ explanations
To expound: labeling a thing for your readers or offering them DIY instructions for making or using said thing neither serves as a metaphysical catalogue of said thing’s ontology nor a coherent outline of its teleological cause(s). I’m reminded of Spanish:
¿Por Que?
To what end?
Or:
Why?
Example title:
Chlorophyl: Why Leaves Are Green
The word “Chlorophyl” literally means “green leaf.” Rendered literally, the title reads:
Green Leaf: Why Leaves Are Green
It’s nonsense.
Please, professional writers, know exactly what you want to say and then say exactly that. And if you don’t and can’t and aren’t there yet, that’s perfectly fine — modesty and humility is a beautiful thing. You’ll grow. I’m growing. We’re all growing here, I’m not throwing any stones at common ignorance.
But IF that’s you, then for all that is good and holy at least have the common decency for us all and the courage for yourself to admit that you have NO IDEA •why• something is the case. Very, very few of us do.
Said simpler, there’s a big difference between common ignorance and willful ignorance. The former remains in short supply these days and the latter abounds.
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