I wonder how the practice of calling this day the Fourth of July started.
I never hear anyone refer to it as the Twenty-fifth of December; it’s always Christmas.
People don’t say the Eleventh of September; it’s always September 11th.
It is New Year’s Day, not the First of January.
Or Valentine’s Day, not the Fourteenth of February.
Why isn’t today most commonly called Independence Day?
Think about where the emphasis falls, whether you say Independence Day vs. Fourth of July. The first helps us to remember the reason for the celebration.
Choose your words carefully and speak with intentionality. Language is a powerful tool.
Originally published in modified form on July 4, 2014
