Remiss for Dummies

Hey there! So, you're curious about the word "remiss," right? Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible. "Remiss" is a word that describes someone who has been careless or negligent in carrying out their responsibilities or duties. It's like when you have a task to do, but you forget to do it or you do it poorly because you didn't pay enough attention.

Imagine if you were playing a team sport like soccer, and your coach assigns you a specific position and task, like defending the goal. Now, if during the game you start daydreaming or get distracted and stop guarding the goal, your team might lose the match. In that situation, you could say you were "remiss" because you didn't fulfill your duty of defending the goal properly. So basically, being remiss means not fulfilling your responsibilities or duties properly.

Now, let's dive a little deeper into the different definitions of "remiss." Aside from describing someone as careless or negligent, "remiss" can also refer to someone who fails to perform an expected social courtesy or duty. For example, if you forget to say "thank you" to someone who has helped you, or if you don't hold the door open for a person when it's common courtesy to do so, you can be considered remiss in those social responsibilities.

Imagine you borrowed a book from your friend, and you promised to return it after a week. However, you completely forgot about it and returned it much later than you said you would. In that case, you could say you were remiss in returning the book because you didn't fulfill your promise in a timely manner.

So, to sum it up, "remiss" means being careless or negligent in fulfilling your responsibilities or duties, whether they are related to tasks, social expectations, or promises. It's important to be aware of our responsibilities and try our best to fulfill them promptly and properly, so we don't end up being remiss. After all, being responsible and reliable is what helps us succeed in our personal and professional lives.