What is your favourite word and why? - Uni of Virginia

Can I put the word as "haha". According to wikipedia, it's an onamatopaeic way of expressing laughter. But I'm not sure if it actually is an accepted word in the dictionary. My reason would be something relating to optimism in life and laughing things away. So a more accepted word would probably be "laughter" but then "haha"'s is my favourite word.

Good evening :)

I think it would be fine to use. You could make sure to include this definition in your essay, but I don't see it as a problem, since it is your favorite word.

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com

Honestly, using that word will probably make you stand out from other applicants. It is very original and a new way to look at the prompt. Good Luck!

Alright I'll work on it :) Thanks!

i agree with cmschlatt. and personally i feel that there is no need to explain why you choose the word "haha" over "laughter"

I'll agree with everyone else here. It will definitely make you stand out from the crowd who may say stuff like "onomatopoeia" itself :P "haha" is miles better than "laughter" anyway.

All the best!

I would like to see how you use it in the essay, and then I'll tell you if it seems right... I think it is a great idea, though!

For part of your essay, you can defend your choice by explaining what you explained here. However, try to find that info in a source other than wikipedia, because wiki is not always credible. I like the way you think!!

I like the idea. I'm an applicant to UVA but I chose a different prompt because I could not think of anything for the one you chose.

Haha, great choice (:

Haha – an onomatopoeic way of expressing laughter – is my favourite word. It reflects the way I live my life, masking moments of sadness with contrived laughter, yet amplifying moments of bliss with genuine chuckles.

Haha at a funeral is largely unacceptable, especially if the bereaved family is supposed to be mourning the deceased. Yet, that was what happened at my grandmother's funeral. Tears aside, we knew that my grandmother would just have wanted all her family members to have merry times together for once, particularly since we live in different countries. We were sad that she has moved on, but on the other hand, we were glad that she left with minimal suffering. Thus, unlike in most funerals, the most common word that surfaced was not sorry but haha as my family joked throughout that period. Even the monks present for the prayers tried to lighten the atmosphere with their humour.

This incident greatly affirmed what I value in life. Life is fragile, so I believe in living for happiness. Naturally, a loud haha to end off the day with friends is more than welcoming, making us feel fulfilled for the day. Nonetheless, it is how we haha through tough times that gives this word a much deeper meaning to me.

Haha is worth more than what it is described as in dictionaries. Haha symbolizes optimism as we laugh away our sorrows in hope for better days. Haha represents a way of living.

Haha characterises me.


Please help me look at it! Thanks :)

The essay is grammatically well written and I like your style as well.

However, I don't really see how Haha reflects the way you live your life and how it characterises you through the funeral incident. The Haha in the incident is more about your family rather than yourself. Since your introduction and conclusion relates Haha mainly to yourself, you could have more focus on showing how Haha is truly part of you.

Also, you could possibly indicate somewhere that Haha is your favourite word because of its meaning that you have interpreted.

*Please ignore the previous post. I've changed the 2nd para of my original essay. Hopefully it's better. :)

Haha – an onomatopoeic way of expressing laughter – is my favourite word. It reflects the way I live my life, masking moments of sadness with contrived laughter, yet augmenting moments of bliss with genuine chuckles.

I am a person who does not like to trouble others with my problems, lest they worry for me. Whenever I did not do well for examinations unlike others, I put on a front to convince people that I was fine by just laughing it out. Whenever I encountered obstacles in my life, I smiled them away. Even when I attended my grandmother's funeral recently, the most common word that surfaced was not sorry but haha. I was sad, but I thought I should remain as jovial as always to lighten up the atmosphere. After all, my grandmother would have wanted a happy reunion, particularly since my extended family members live in different countries.

These incidents greatly affirmed what I value in life. Life is fragile, so I believe in living for happiness. Naturally, a loud haha to end off the day with friends is more than welcoming, making us feel fulfilled for the day. Nonetheless, it is how we haha through tough times that gives this word a much deeper meaning to me.

Haha is worth more than what it is described as in dictionaries. Haha symbolizes optimism as we laugh away our sorrows in hope for better days. Haha represents a way of living.

Haha characterises me.

I wish I had people like you around me every day!!

:)
Kevin

So does that mean it's fine? Like no grammatical mistakes too?

Yes, and I especially like this sentence: Life is fragile, so I believe in living for happiness.

I see no errors, and I think you are well above average because of your excellent choice of "haha."

Yup okay thanks :)

hmm... i think i almost liked your first version better... the second version makes you "haha" outlook on life seem negative. in the second you appear almost too selfless- like you feel like you have to laugh so that the mood will brighten, not that you want to. the image of "putting on a front" is negative, while Life is fragile, so I believe in living for happiness" is a much more positive statement. I think if you tie the first version's second paragraph to the beginning of your third paragraph by talking briefly about how your grandmother believed in living for laughter and optimism, your essay would be stronger. Just suggestions! good luck!