Paranoid

I hate it when you have those moments of Stink, was that really a word, or did I just make that up? when you're talking to people. Particularly people to whom you want to give a professional impression.

Take, for instance, my comment this afternoon: "So it's OK that this is stricken and not deleted, correct?" Instantly I began my mental scramble Is "stricken" really a word? Yes, it is a word just not a common one. Aaaugh! So did I use it incorrectly? Do they think I'm an uneducated boor now?

My mental anguish continued for several minutes until I realized I was just standing there looking dumb. I shook myself, said something brilliant like, "OK. So it's fine that they're stricken. I'll make the copies", and then whisked myself out of the office.

Immediately I got on Dictionary.com and looked up "stricken" just to be sure that I was correct. Yes, it is a word and I did use it correctly.