Je Ne Sais Quoi

Je Ne Sais Quoi is a french phrase that translates literally to “I do not know.” It’s often used as a euphemism meaning something that is desirable but hard to describe or express.

For example, I’d like to hire Jane because she has a certain je ne sais quoi.

Before I started writing, I’d use the phrase, “I don’t know how to describe it,” followed by, “Does that make sense?,” more often than I’d like. Whether I be casually speaking with a friend or explaning my reasoning behind a decision, I’d struggle to articulate my point of view.

To be fair, articulating a point of view is difficult. However, “I don’t know how to describe it,” is a phrase a writer should never say as it’s precisely a writers job to write that which is hard to express.

Through experience, I understand that some things are difficult to articulate but never impossible. Perhaps I just to need to stumble through my words, expand my vocabulary, or it’s an opportunity to coin a new term.