It’s a word we encounter constantly, often without a second thought: 'submission.' We click it, fill out forms for it, and sometimes even dread it. But what does 'submission' really mean, beyond the digital click?
Think about it. When you're asked to send in your work – whether it's a manuscript to a publisher, an application for a job, or even your tax returns electronically – you're engaging in an act of submission. It’s about presenting something you've created or gathered for someone else's consideration, inspection, or decision. I recall seeing a note from NPR about their student podcast challenge, encouraging folks to check their 'submission guidelines' and email them with questions. That’s a clear example of submitting creative work for a specific purpose.
Forbes and Sacramento Bee have also used 'submission' in contexts where readers send in their contributions, whether it's for a poll or just general feedback. It’s this idea of sending something in – an act of offering. Even Cinnabon, in its own sweet way, has a 'submission form' for its rewards program, asking you to submit your details.
But 'submission' isn't just about sending things off. It can also refer to the thing that has been submitted. For instance, Brent Lang at Variety mentioned a '500% increase in the number of project submissions,' referring to the actual projects themselves that were sent in. Similarly, Angie Martoccio noted, 'There’s so many submissions, and dance music was huge this year,' talking about the entries or pieces of music that were submitted.
Then there's a slightly different flavor of submission, one that touches on agreement or yielding. In legal contexts, 'submission' can mean agreeing to let arbitrators decide a case. And in a more general sense, it can describe the state of being compliant or yielding to another's authority or control. Trent Reinsmith, writing for Forbes.com, even touches on a combat sports context, mentioning a 'pick for Chimaev to win via early submission,' referring to a specific outcome in a fight where one competitor yields to another.
So, the next time you see or use the word 'submission,' take a moment to consider which shade of meaning is at play. Is it the act of sending something forward? The item itself? Or perhaps a more nuanced act of yielding? It’s a word with layers, much like the many things we submit every day.
