20 Written Quotes Whoever came up first with that saying a picture is worth a thousand words didn't understand the first thing about either one. Although its exact origins are unknown, the phrase and the idea it conveys have been around, and remained popular, for quite some time. I'm excited to explore all things English with you and The Word Counter! It's worth a thousand words. You know what it looks like but what is it called? For what it's worth: it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. verbs. For example, if a character looks at a photo and uses this phrase, readers will likely have to fill in the gaps. (The playwright Henrick Ibsen is credited as saying something very similar in the late 19th century: A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed.) Other phrases that can be traced to the 1800s convey that a tear is worth ten thousand words and that a well-understood fact is worth more than a thousand words.The specific idea that a picture is worth a thousand, or ten thousand, words is thought by some researchers to have first appeared in print in 1862, in the novel Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev. Trochaic pentameter is an uncommon form of meter. Early use of the exact phrase appears in a 1918 newspaper advertisement for the San Antonio Light, which says: One of the Nation's Greatest Editors Says: One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words The San Antonio Light's Pictorial Magazine of the War One picture is worth a thousand words Albert Einstein 5 A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. "One fact well understood by observation, and well guided development, is worth In March 1911, the Syracuse Advertising Men's Club held a banquet to discuss journalism and publicity. Have you seen this image of Anna? a picture is worth 1,000 words phrase. If a picture is worth a thousand words, why did God invent captions? This little essay clocks in at 471 words. In conclusion, QI believes that Arthur Brisbane should receive primary credit for this saying based on the citations dated March 28, 1911 and July 26, 1915. One picture is worth ten thousand words.. Lists. As in previous studies, participants drank more after seeing happy faces than after seeing angry faces. Lists. Unknown. Synonyms Similar meaning. (Playful, modern, Western) A picture is worth a thousand and 42 words. Your email address will not be published. Writers use a picture is worth a thousand words in dialogue in any form of writing, from poetry to plays. Barnard wrote this phrase in the advertising trade journal Printers' Ink, promoting the use of images in advertisements that appeared on the sides of streetcars. " A picture is worth a thousand words " is an adage in multiple languages meaning that complex and sometimes multiple ideas [1] can be conveyed by a single still image, which conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a mere verbal description. As far as the old adage: For now, at least, it appears that a picture is worth more than a single word. By using images, you can convey your message in a visual representation that impacts others. - Fred R. Barnard. I didn't realize how beautiful the place was until I saw her pictures. Its possible, Winkielman said, that emotionally charged pictures speak more directly to us than words. What does a picture is worth a thousand words expression mean? It was Barnard who ascribed the proverb to the Chinese, and later, the Japanese. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and, if you find that you're . The proverb a picture is worth a thousand words is probably not as old as you think. 2023 Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. That remains to be, um, seen. A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush Meaning, Origin and Usage, How To Write A Certified Letter (With Templates), How to Write a Letter to the President of the United States, How to Write a Postcard (with Tips & Examples), Youre My Muse Meaning, Origin and Usage. While most idioms are usually confined to use with family, friends, and close colleagues, this idiom is more easily used in any kind of situation. Film is a visual medium, and obviously, you cant fit a whole book into two hours unless youre really economical about it. A character in the book says: The drawing shows me at one glance what might be spread over ten pages in a book.However, theres evidence that others expressed this earlier, and even much earlier. (It is also often written with a conjunction as a pictures worth a thousand words.). A library card's worth millions. NPR's Scott Simon noted that it might not be true at all that "a picture is worth a thousand words." Perhaps it depends on our attention and interests. Origin This phrase originated in America in the early 1900s. How UCLA became a cool setting for a new crop of fiction. Hardly any sets of 10K words can be adequately described with pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words. Votes: 2, One picture is worth a thousand words Example Usage "Sandra spent an hour telling me about her vacation. Can carbocations exist in a nonpolar solvent? It's far better to shoot a good picture than a good-looking picture. @ect No. The idea that a picture can convey what might take many words to express was voiced by a character in Ivan S. Turgenev's novel Printer's Ink printed another form of the phrase in March 1927, this time suggesting a Chinese origin: "Chinese proverb. Why do academics stay as adjuncts for years rather than move around? A picture tells a story just as well as, if not better than, a lot of written words. (Inverse) One word is one thousandth of a picture. Such a beautiful portrait of a little girl - represents how a picture paints a thousand words. . For instance, you could request someone to send you a picture of an item youre thinking about buying. definitions. If you want your title remain catchy but at the same time that it would not be a platitude, you best either modify it slightly, or completely through some metaphors, obviously depending on your audience and additional information you would like to convey. Votes: 3 Wim Wenders A picture is worth a thousand words. synonyms. The Meaning of Gauge: What It Is and How To Use It. A good metaphor is worth a thousand pictures., A photograph shouldnt be just a picture, it should be a philosophy., A picture can tell a thousand words, but a few words can change its story., A picture held us captive. Writers also consider the phrases meaning when they are deciding on book jackets or the image/s that are going to appear on the front of a book. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'. (Scientific) One whiteboard is worth approximately 31415 words. [6] The December 8, 1921, issue carries an ad entitled, "One Look is Worth A Thousand Words." This MessagePointing the Way to Easter Smartnessis indeed eloquent and informative. Ive never understood the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words.. If a picture is worth a thousand words, photographers are worth a million. a good sketch is better than a long speech. Fast forward to the early 20th century, to 1911 exactly, when the Syracuse Advertising Mens Club held a journalism banquet. All rights reserved. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. Its about the memories and meanings it holds., If you refuse to develop in the dark, you create a distorted picture of your life., In politics, a picture is worth a thousand words., Photoghraphic projects can be as short as an afternoon or as long as a lifetime., She can paint a lovely picture, but this story has a twist. Votes: 2 Napoleon Bonaparte One picture is worth a thousand words Votes: 2 Albert Einstein Interestingly, some people debate the truth of the above statement, with many arguing that the use of both images and words is the best way to get something across. Origins. One picture is worth a thousand words. definitions. An interface is worth a thousand pictures. While new research from the University of California, San Diego makes no claims on quantifying just how many words a picture is really worth, it shows that a single picture has the power to sway people changing how they behave while a single word does not. One moose, two moose. What is Mindfulness and How to Be Mindful? Exemplifies the truth of the above statementjudging from the warm, reception it has received at the hands of the Sunday Light readers. Its worth a thousand words. Others credit the quote to that event but to newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane. A picture might be worth a thousand words but a good sentence is worth a thousand windows. Another ad by Barnard appears in the March 10, 1927, issue with the phrase "One Picture Worth Ten Thousand Words", where it is labeled a Chinese proverb. What is the purpose of non-series Shimano components? For the past 15 years, I've dedicated my career to words and language, as a writer, editor, and communications specialist and as a language arts educator. Perhaps they work through an older more immediately reactive brain system, while words, which can be nuanced and ambiguous, might require more thought before they are able to affect us. The viewer may not understand the context of what he is looking at, where a literary essay or some other written text may explain things more fully. Votes: 1 Inga Muscio Winkielman believes it is the first paper to compare the behavioral effects of pictures and words. ", This page was last edited on 13 December 2022, at 08:36. Likewise, its typically much simpler and quicker to figure out how to get from point A to point B by looking at a map than it is listening to someone tell you or reading about all the turns to make and landmarks to be on the lookout for on your drive. You can find me on LinkedIn, or access my online portfolio here! You could use it at home to tell someone to send you a picture of their vacation so you can get an idea of their trip. Accessed 5 March 2023. This is sometimes translated today as "A picture is worth a thousand words. The popular phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words," meaning a single image can convey a complex idea or story, was introduced in the United states in the early 20th century. Another version of the phrase was used in an advertisement in a newspaper in 1913 and again in another advertisement in 1918. A picture is worth a thousand words is considered both an idiom and a proverb. (USA Today), If a picture is worth a thousand words, then think of the slide as the thousand words you wont have time to say a supportive addition to your words. Obviously, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and on some level, its sort of true., When the cold comes to New England it arrives in sheets of sleet and ice., When youre at a loss for words. Get up and make them. A similar idea was seen very widely in the USA from the early 20th century, in adverts for Doan's Backache Kidney Pills, which included a picture of a man holding his back and the text "Every picture tells a story". However, the saying gained prominence in its modern form in America in the early 20th century. Yes, but only if you look at the picture and say or think the thousand words William, Saroyan I know they say that a picture's worth a thousand words, but it's amazing how often those words tell the wrong story. In two different experiments, the researchers asked 50 undergraduate students to classify objects, faces or words on a computer screen. seeing is believing. A satellite image is worth a million dollars., A picture is worth a thousand words. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Votes: 0, A picture might be worth a thousand words but a good sentence is worth a thousand windows Whoever came up first with that saying a picture is worth a thousand words didn't understand the first thing about either one. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Related terms for a picture is worth a thousand words- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with a picture is worth a thousand words. "[7] Nonetheless, the proverb soon after became popularly attributed to Confucius. You can use a picture is worth a thousand words in several social and professional situations. Ronald Reagan A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Required fields are marked *, Phrases Similar to A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, Phrases Opposite to A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. The phrase a picture is worth a thousand words means a picture may convey an idea more quickly and effectively than the written word. Sarah Parcak One picture is worth 1,000 denials. Ironically, its going to take quite a few words to explain the etymology of the common phrase. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? (Modern, technological) A pixel is worth 1024 bits. And when someone has hit the nail on the head, theyve gotten an answer exactly right or done something exactly as it should have been done.Although you might be able to understand the expression a picture is worth a thousand words just by looking at the words that comprise it, if you were to take it purely literally, youd understand it to mean that a picture is worth or is the same as/equivalent to exactly one thousand words. Ladies and gentlemen, a picture is not worth a thousand words. Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. Votes: 0, There's that statement, "A picture is worth a thousand words" - well, I think flying around in Google Earth is worth a million words. Menu. her paintbrush is a razor, and her canvas is her wrist., Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second., The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter., The world before us is a postcard, and I imagine the story we are writing on it., They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Ever tried to describe a place you visited to someone, and gone on and on about how wonderful it was, only to end up saying something to the effect of, I guess youd have to see it to believe it? There is a sacredness in tears. I currently reside in Asheville, North Carolina. In one ad, Barnard called the phrase a Chinese proverb (he later wrote that it was said by a Japanese philosopher), though he didnt have proof of such an origin. Thats why you may also hear or see the phrase as one picture is worth a thousand words. "A picture is worth a thousand words" is an adage in multiple languages meaning that complex and sometimes multiple ideas can be conveyed by a single still image, which conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a mere verbal description. Copyright The Regents of the University of California, Toggle subnavigation for Campuses & locations, A picture might actually be worth more than a thousand words, Frontiers in Psychology: Influence of suboptimally and optimally presented affe, UC San Diego: Face value: Hidden smiles influence consumption and judgment, UC San Diego Piotr Winkielman faculty profile, Turmeric compound helps grow engineered blood vessels and. Movies. An interface is worth a thousand pictures. 04 Mar 2023 15:13:13 In an article in The Post-Standard covering this event, the author quoted Arthur Brisbane (not Tess Flanders as previously reported here and elsewhere) as saying: "Use a picture. Washington Irving, Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own. Youve hit the nail on the head.If you took the first example literally, youd think it was describing a person standing in a bathtub full of hot water, perhaps. A satellite image is worth a million dollars. This has led to another popular belief about the phrase, that is, that it was coined by Confucius. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much for a poem? A picture is worth 1,000 words originated with the famed Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. This saying was invented by an advertising executive, Fred R. Barnard. [8] This was published as early as 1966 discussing persuasion and selling in a book on engineering design. Why does it seem like I am losing IP addresses after subnetting with the subnet mask of 255.255.255.192/26? Be the first to contribute! A long speech can accomplish a lot, but not as much as a good picture can. You try to have characters give too much exposition. I didnt realize how beautiful the place was until I saw her pictures. One picture is worth ten thousand words.". (Modern, technological) A pixel is worth 1024 bits. The meaning is a little different, but it might still be applicable. A picture really is worth a thousand words. "We know from experience and from our other research that words in sentences are emotionally impactful, Winkielman said, but why? (Playful, traditional, oriental) A picture is worth a thousand and one words. This idiom refers to how impactful a single image can be. Are you looking for a way to tell someone to send you a picture of what they are trying to explain? A similar saying to 'In confirmation to your saying'? Votes: 0, If a picture is worth a thousand words, why did God invent captions? The phrase is sometimes used in journalism when someone wants to convey meaning through a cover photo. History [ edit] The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight, and a fountain singing to it. Votes: 2, A picture is worth a thousand wordsand uses up a thousand times the memory. Surprisingly, nearly invisible images shown for only 10 milliseconds had the same effect as clearly noticeable images shown for 200 milliseconds. Synonyms Similar meaning. "A picture is worth a thousand words" is an adage in multiple languages meaning that complex and sometimes multiple ideas[1] can be conveyed by a single still image, which conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a mere verbal description. Theres no way you can deny involvement after they caught you on camera like that.. A picture is worth a thousand words. Similar expressions have been in use since at least the 1700s. It means that images are more valuable than words when explaining concepts of events. Well, everyone has ideas, all the time. A picture is worth a thousand words - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. While the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words has been labeled as a Chinese proverb and attributed to the philosopher, Confucius, in fact it is an American expression. I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Linear Algebra - Linear transformation question. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. What Does Let the Dead Bury the Dead Mean. It's worth a thousand words. Winkielman was supported by a grant from UC San Diegos Academic Senate. In contrast, positive words did not increase consumption. Proverbs are also called adages, aphorisms, and maxims. In general, in a string of multiplication is it better to multiply the big numbers or the small numbers first? @David Toth, this is a great list! As for a picture, if it isn't worth a thousand words, the hell with it. (Controversial) One Monet worth 1000 Shakespeares. When a relationship is developed so closely, the individual may become regarded as a member of their own family. When to Use A picture is worth a thousand words, A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed, https://poemanalysis.com/idiom/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words/, Poems covered in the Educational Syllabus. A library card's worth millions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Votes: 4 A photograph or artwork may depict emotion, enabling the viewer to perceive the essence of the story without a word being written or spoken. For example, the similar phrase one timely deed is worth ten thousand words appeared in The Works of Mr. James Thomson, which is thought to have been originally published some time in the 1760s. Its origins are literary in nature and far easier to pin down than many other popular sayings with histories dating back to the 1600s or 1700s. thesaurus. The first experiment compared the effect of words that were rated as emotionally positive, like panda, or emotionally negative, like knife, to the effect of happy and angry facial expressions. You and you alone make me feel that I am alive. Albert Einstein 'One picture is worth a thousand words' . . Robert Richardson, There is a sacredness in tears. nouns. While new research from the University of California, San Diego makes no claims on quantifying just how many words a picture is really worth, it shows that a single picture has the power to sway people changing how they behave while a single word does not. To save this word, you'll need to log in. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love. Idiom suggesting seeing something is better for learning than having it described, A scientific formula is worth a thousand pictures, "Academic Citation Practice: A Sinking Sheep?