Words can play a powerful role in marriages. They can cut you, heal you, inspire you, and stop you from certain actions.
Learning the language of marriage takes time and diligence, but saying some words regularly may cause irreparable damage.
Huffington Post came up with five words that are destined to cause damage to your marriage.
The first word is "never," which implies a sense of hopelessness and finality.
When you use "never," you're telling your spouse that they are no good, will never be any good and that there's no hope for change.
Second is "always," which implies a sense of rigidity and righteousness.
When you use "always," you're telling your spouse that they are wrong, you are right, and that there's nothing that can be done about it.
It's also an all-or-nothing phrase, and it does not lend itself to understanding, learning, or healing.
Thirdly "but." It implies a sense of manipulation and a lack of integrity.
When you use "but," you negate whatever was said before. It invalidates your message and turns a positive statement into a negative one.
It's a conjunction that does not lend itself to building trust, credibility and intimacy. Similar words to avoid include "however" and "although."
Fourth "*#% and ." Use your imagination and fill in the blank and what you're left with is a vulgar, obscenity-laced attack.
Any way you look at it, attacking your spouse by name-calling will cause irreparable damage.
Doing this regularly will surely destroy your spouse's soul and kill the marriage. Outright contempt has no place in a marriage.
And lastly "divorce." Threatening to divorce, suggesting divorce as an option, or accusing your spouse of destroying the marriage will lead to just that.
A divorce is a very serious decision, and using it as a weapon or method of control creates anxiety and despair. It's not conducive for effective communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, or intimacy.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
