Avoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy and the cute. Do not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy, ready and able. (Strunk and White)
There’s no shortage of writing advice out there telling you to keep your writing simple, to use plain language, and to avoid jargon like the plague. So why do so many people continue to ignore that good advice?
A conversation around the theme of simplicity got me thinking about this question. What was it about complex, hard to read words that people were so stubbornly attached to?
A research study* looked into the way word choice changes the assessments we make about someone’s intelligence. Students were asked to rate the intelligence of writers based on essays that they’d written, and make recommendations about their suitability for admission for graduate study.
The original versions were made more complex by substituting orginal words with their longest applicable thesaurus entries.
The results? The simpler the essay, the more likely it was the author would be rated as intelligent, and recommended for admission to the graduate school.
The author of the study (Daniel Oppenheimer) concludes:
“The pundits are likely right: write clearly and simply if you can, and you’ll be more likely to be thought of as intelligent.”
So why is it so hard to put the writing advice into practice? In the same article Oppenheimer mentions that:
- 86% of students at Stanford admitted to using more complicated language in their essays to make their work sound more valid or intelligent
- Two thirds of the students said they’d used the thesaurus to choose words that are more complex so the content was more valid or intelligent
Some of the possible reasons that occurred to me include:
- Desire to prove your topic is complex by using complex words
- Fear of betraying lack of (classical) education
- Natural desire to copy the language patterns of others
- Little encouragement to use ‘ordinary’ words
- Lack of time to ‘translate’ complex words used round about you into everyday words
- Longer words keep subjects impersonal – reducing potential for personal criticism & attack
- It’s the way people above you write – so you assume it’s the ladder to success
What about you? Can you see any hidden (presumed) benefits of using long words that might explain the attachment? Have you ever found yourself changing a ten-center word for a twenty dollar one to achieve a particular effect?
Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count
* Article details:
Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly Daniel Oppenheimer, 2006 (full research article)
The Secret of Impressive Writing? Keep it Plain and Simple (summary of article at Science Daily)
Hat tip to the (new) legal writer for pointing me towards the article: Use plain English, appear smarter (and more persuasive)
Photo Credit: The Long Book by Emborg on Flickr
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Hi Joanna. I don’t mind the odd “complex” word when it is being used to emphasize a point, or show attitude. I think this depends on the person’s background too. If they grew up around a certain vocabulary it comes naturally; it’s their language.
But, I think when it’s overdone, it’s the ego taking over.
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Hi Davina, I agree there are times when you can’t help but use a long word.
Good point about the ego – the desire to show importance you think, or superiority? (Even if, as the research shows, it’s liable to backfire!)
After reading this post, Joanna, I went back and had a look at my thesis to see if I was guilty of artificially inflating my language, and I was surprised to see that much of my language is relatively simple. Sometimes the sentence structures are quite complex, and there are some lengthy words, although many of them are linked to literary theory, e.g. carnivalesque, autochthonous, and reification.
I wonder to what extent the appropriateness of using those twenty dollar words is linked to tone. I can tell, for example, when I read a student’s essay whether their vocabulary is natural or forced, and that’s not necessarily related to word choice, but rather how they’re using words, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, I seem to have written my own essay now! Back to the thesis I go.
Amy
xx
amypalkos last blog post..Homecoming
This is a topic that will continue to be discussed for years and years, and it depends on where and when you are using it. When I was in interpreting school, one teacher advised us to choose a longer word when we had a choice. Not in order to sound elitist, but because in spoken language they carry more weight, especially in French.
Nadine Touzets last blog post..Take care of the pennies
I have always preferred short sentences that go straight to the point. I feel that such sentences tell more than 3-mile-long ones
Hi Joanna, Writing in simple language shows respect for one’s readers. The purpose of writing, after all, is to illuminate, not obfuscate. Better make that confuse
Brad Shorrs last blog post..The Generosity of Bloggers
I find it amusing that Oppenheimer used the word intelligent rather than smart, considering the context.
But then, they have different connotations, which is one reason to use a longer word. You can compress more subtleties of meaning into the sentence or shift the meaning slightly.
Joanna, I definitely think that some writers use complex words to demonstrate intelligence. I believe that some fear being “confused” with the ordinary who they believe are less educated and not as well read. I try to choose language that fits the context but always opt for clarity. I am guilty of having words I love like multitudinous and diaphanous that I try to sneak in from time to time.
Karen Swims last blog post..Is It Far Better to Give than Receive?
It’s like I always say, “Eschew obfuscation!”
I must admit to using the ol’ “big words” technique to impress folks with my writing. Didn’t work though. So finally I decided to just, y’know, write. Worked like a charm!
I guess what finally convinced me of its futility, though, is what Amy mentioned up there in her comment: That listeners can easily tell if your language is forced or natural.
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..What I Learned From… the Generosity of Others
Amy, how lovely to see you. I’m glad it was a nice surprise looking back at the language in your thesis! It doesn’t surprise me though, as I get the feeling you have a strong desire to express and communicate the ideas that you’re working on.
Of course there are some words that we can’t do without – especially in a field where others are referring to the same subject. Carnivalesque is particularly beautiful
In relation to tone, yes, I think it might be. It’s some sixth sense we have that the words are not the natural language patterns of the writer, but there to achieve an (artificial) effect.
Nadine, thanks for the reminder of context and culture. Interesting point about longer words carrying more weight (esp in French). I’m not sure how much that (still) applies in the UK. I think perhaps we’ve reacted against it, for good or ill.
Pelf, that’s my preference too, and – I think – how most readers feel. Which is why I’m curious as to why people still try and over-complicate things…
Brad, thanks for correcting yourself! I think you’re right, simple language follows respect, which follows thinking about your readers rather than focusing on yourself as writer. Do you find it hard to wean some people off jargon in business writing though?
Beth, hi, and thanks for the smart comment! But you’re right, they are slightly different, and intelligence does convey something slightly different. I guess that’s what the students were asked to rate in the study too.
We certainly can’t do without long words – and there’s no point simplifying things for simplicity’s sake. I think as others have said where it goes wrong is when you go in the opposite direction – adding a long word, when there’s a perfectly good one that’ll do.
Karen, thanks for helping me get my head round why people do this.
Fitting the context is important, and sometimes we need to copy the style of others to avoid breaking rapport. Thanks also for confessing to the occasional sneaking in of a lovely long word!
Robert, it’s true, it’s the forced bit that makes the difference. Actually you do throw in a fair few long words (with interesting definitions!) but it works perfectly in context, and within the natural conversational style that you use. It’s all part of the Zone magic.
Me? Use long words? I’m completely discombobulated to hear you say that!
Oh, wait…
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Eeek! It’s Almost Over!
There’s one example that I see over and over: people who write “utilize” when they mean “use.” Utilize used to mean “to use for an unintended purpose” such as “I utilized my toothbrush to clean the toilet.” Now people utilize the word because they think it sounds more impressive…
As I write this comment, I am thinking of the difference between speech and writing (I almost wrote “the written word” arghhh!)
When I speak, I find myself searching for exactly the right word with the right nuance, since that affects the meaning. I am blessed with a healthy vocabulary and I find different words with similar meanings do not always have precisely the same meaning.
I don’t think I use longer, less commonly used words to impress, but rather to communicate precisely.
A similar thing happens when writing. Of course, when I write, I usually have the chance to go back and edit so that I can replace long, pretentious words with words that are shorter and more commonly understood. Often, this means I have to add words, albeit shorter ones, to flesh out the intended meaning. So, shorter words but more of them.
I read somewhere that shorter words with Anglo-Saxon roots tend to be more powerful. I try to find those and use them.
Yet, there are times when a longer word has exactly the meaning I want. And, while the point of writing may be to communicate, it also is to communicate precisely.
Am I wrong?
Williams last blog post..How and why Native American Nativity Sets have a place in the home and the heart.
Robert – that was just the one I was thinking of
David, I think, thankfully, that one has passed us by in the UK. (No doubt we have other sins.) I will forever associate the word with toothbrushes and toilets now!
William, interesting question. I suppose I’d answer – to communicate effectively. There may be times when the utmost precision is required, but perhaps others when we’re trying to convey an argument, an idea or an emotion when the longer or more technical words get in the way of understanding. It pretty much depends on context though, and the expectations and language practice of your readers.
Coming back to earlier discussions, I think intention is key (it is for most things!) If your intention is to communicate rather than to impress or look like someone you’re not – you’ll go for just the right word, whatever its length.
For the purpose of my blog, short and to the point is key. I am writing a blog, not a technical essay. I rather work on my grammar than the size of the words I use.
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Well, sometimes it’s FUN to be wordy. (And, heaven knows, I can blather on … and on … with the best of them!)
–Debs last blog post..Domain Question for You Experts
This plays out in blogging similarly as I think about writing for all types of people. Generally a blog attracts many kinds of people. Writing for all kinds of people is FREAKIN hard
Tyler (Man of Depravity)s last blog post..Advent Conspiracy
Carla, sounds like a sensible approach to me
–Deb, you are undermining my case here! Okay, yes, it is fun to use just the right word however extraordinarily long… so long as we’re doing it to have fun, or to tease, or to play amongst other wordy nerdy friends 
Tyler, I am so laughing at your comment. In sympathy. You’re right, and to be honest I think you’d go do-lally if you tried to do that. I know I would. I try and pick one person at a time and hope for the best.
No, no, I’m WITH you! See?
http://punctualityrules.com/2008/05/14/simplicity-in-writing/
Or, well, some of the time:
http://punctualityrules.com/2008/08/09/purposeful-complexity/
–Debs last blog post..Domain Question for You Experts
Hi Joanna,
You have raised a very valid point. Why, inspite of repeated advices, people use complex words?
When I reconsider this, I think I write long words to make an impression on others??!!
But am surprised to learn that ’86% of students at Stanford admitted to using more complicated language in their essays to make their work sound more valid or intelligent’. (So I’m not an exception).
Thank you for making people to interpret this aspect of writing.
(Meghna)
Meghnas last blog post..The Blogging Idol Contest
Joanna, I’m not surprised to see you flesh out the idea that simple words work best after the Twitter conversations today.
Must admit I was truly surprised to see the quotes. I almost included C.S. Lewis’s again in my comment since it’s like a little poem in my head to keep my writing simple.
Because I happened to hit the jackpot as a commenter on your blog, I won a book as a prize and chose the one by William Zinsser. Here’s his wisdom…
“Clutter is the disease of American writing… But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.”
Zinsser gives me guidance for the next ways I want to ante up my writing.
Robyn McMasters last blog post..What I Learned from Uncle Earl’s Generosity
Joanna, I’m so glad to have found your site via the CommentLuv site listing! Your thoughts on word usage and what it means to “just say it, already!” really met me at my core.
As a MA Art History student, I often cut to the chase with my explanations of complex methodologies and philosophies – much to the chagrin of my fellow students.
I’ll definitely keep posted on what you have going on here via Google Reader! Thanks for the great post! Terrific way to end the evening!
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When I go on a trip, no matter how impractical some piece of clothing turns out to be, I feel like “I packed it, so I’m going to wear it.”
I think it’s the same with big words. “I learned it, so I’m going to use it.” Once you make the effort to learn that big word, you want to make the effort worthwhile.
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–Deb, perfect links (now I’ve rescued them from the spam monster), thanks for sharing. I remember now my brain couldn’t think of anything clever enough for your complexity post – or maybe it was before my new thesaurus arrived…
Hi Meghna, I’m glad you found this of interest, and thanks for being honest about your own word usage! Of course you’re not an exception, and I’m sure we’ve all done it at times.
Robyn, I’m glad you’ve found the Zinsser book so valuable. Me too. It was interesting researching this post. There were plenty of examples of writing advice to keep it simple, but not much on why people find it so hard to apply that advice, or remain attached to their longer words. I was intrigued by this one piece of research I did find – and the ensuing conversation here. Fascinating stuff.
Hi Kevin, very glad to meet you, and thanks for letting me know how you got here. Always interesting to hear.
Being able to cut to the chase with explanations of complex philosophies is a rare skill indeed – no wonder your peers are chagrined!
Hope to see you back again soon
Joanna
Deanna, I guess that’s the spirit that makes you an adventurous wench
Using just the right word can be a lot of fun, especially if it’s done in a way that takes your readers with you.
Thanks for stopping by
Joanna,
I agree with you and the broad majority of my fellow commentators – shorter, simpler words are usually best.
However, let me come out in defense of the occasional use of the long word.
Consider the following sentence, used in the most recent edition of National Geographic:
“Herod used gargantuan foundation stones, some over 40 feet long and weighing 600 tons.”
Now the could have used other words such as huge or enormous, and I had to look up the word ‘gargantuan’ in the dictionary. But had they have done so, the sentence would not have made anywhere near the same impression upon me.
As Divinia touched on, the occasional long word can be an effective way to drive home a point. That said, if overdone, long words can be frustrating as well as ineffectual in my view.
Andrews last blog post..Why firms should pay bills on time
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Kate
http://educationonline-101.com
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I tend to share your opinion, Joanna. Most of the people don’t want to spend their time to read on those hard to understand articles, as up to 70% of the readers just want to know what is the “main points” that the writer want to express! And, majority of the readers hate those long-winded article’s title as well.
Simplicity is the best, Joanna!
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Hm, aren’t words like colors and sounds? You use the ones that work best for what you’re after? I could say blue, or I could say ultramarine.
And what could ever take the place of deliquesce? It rolls around the readers tongue as whatever you’re describing gently melts away.
Course, I ‘m a Southerner. We like words. All kinds of them. So why discount them just for having a few extra syllables if they are a good part of the story?
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Sugar and Spice
I have a brother who talks like this. I don’t know why. I’m not sure if he’s trying to impress others or if he just uses big words, but I’ve often had to tell him to dumb it down. It can be frustrating and irritating talking to him. I’m not unintelligent (stupid), but he will use words that you don’t hear in everyday language. You have to stop and think what he is trying to say and it interrupts the flow of the conversation. It’s like he’s learned a new word and wants to use it in a sentence.
The same can be true in writing and even worse. When you are writing, you have more time to consider the words you use and it is easy to choose a big ($20 word) where a simple one will do. I don’t know if I’m guilty of this. I probably am from time to time, but I do try to keep my writing simple so people can understand it without grabbing a dictionary or thesaurus. I don’t want to interrupt the flow of a piece. I appreciate the reminder to keep it simple. Sometimes we just forget and have to be nudged in the right direction.
Debbie Yosts last blog post..Are We Texting Away Our Compassion
I have a tendancy to use big words. It’s not that I’m trying to make myself sound more intellegent that’s just how I was raised. By the time I attended second grade I knew what the medical term was for asprin. Please don’t ask I don’t think I can spell that one. It’s not an act right now as I type I have to think real hard to use smaller words. It requires more thought for me to use the smaller words. than the bigger ones. I don’t use dictionaries or whatever but often I get from my husband “Stop cussing at me!” I don’t even know when I’m saying a large word. It’s like second nature.
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Andrew, you’re quite right, there’s a time and a place for (just the right) long words. The example you gave is a good one – a word that stretched you, got you looking into the dictionary, made an impression, and asked to be passed on!
Kate, hello and thanks very much for saying hi. I’m sorry your comment got caught in the spam queue for a little while. I appreciate the feedback from your reading experience so far.
Wilson, certainly in a time poor world readers appreciate being able to whizz through things quickly and easily, and simple writing will help them to do that.
Hi Jan, that’s a good point and some beautiful examples. Those words are indeed painting a picture, or reminding us of a sensory experience, or asking us to imagine one… They’re serving a purpose, and one we couldn’t do without. I should really have made my question ‘why do writers choose to use unnecessarily long words?’ but perhaps that wouldn’t have generated such a good conversation
Debbie, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head where we come to simplicity – we tend to mix up notions of simplicity with not being intelligent, and complexity with intelligence – so you’d ask him to ‘dumb it down’ whereas you really want him to demonstrate his superior intelligence by simplifying things
You’re absolutely right about the interuption to the reading – that seemed to be what the students noticed in the study I quoted, and is different to the feeling we get when someone uses one or two (appropriately) long words.
Hi Shirley, thanks for sharing that perspective and experience. My guess is that your writing won’t come across as ‘trying’ because you’re not, it’s natural to you. Although if you’re writing for a wide audience it might be worth putting in the extra effort to simplify things so your readers aren’t tripping over too many words. The odd surprise word can be a delight though, and see us reaching happily for our dictionaries
I think it is a brilliant discussion. In art you learn the rules, so you know how to bend them in unexpected and delightful ways. But everything serves the whole. The impact of that piece. So you use the sensors that tickle just the way you want them to.
Jan, beautifully put, as ever. Thank you.
You’re very welcome. You make us all better at what we do, Joanna, so thank you right back. Have a great weekend.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Sugar and Spice
Well I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but in academia, the pretentious $20 words are king. In psychology and sociology we may use the simpler language to teach our students, but if you look at what’s published in our peer reviewed journals, all you’re going to see is this exclusionary, high brow language that no one outside the field (and often people with in it) wouldn’t understand. It’s all in the name of “professionalism”.
Kait Nolans last blog post..Fess Up Friday
Kait, hello, and thanks for sharing that perspective. I fear the same is true in many fields – it’s hard to change the language when it’s as dominant as this, especially if those are the ‘rules’ that you need to play by in order to get published. Would that it were different…
One bit of advice we give many clients is “Use the simplest correct word.”
If a writer’s purpose is communication (which it should be!), then confusing, complicated, or uncommon words need to be replaced with those the reader will know and understand immediately. This tip has proved its value so many times that we added it to our Writing Tips for a Year service (#43).
David, you’re right, that is good advice. What is it about long or complex words though that people find themselves so attached to?
Joanna:
I think the key word here is “correct.” May I say again that sometimes a longer word carries a meaning and tone that a short word does not?
In that case, why not go with the longer word?
William, I’m not disagreeing with the advice (although there might be times you sacrifice some meaning in order to reach a wider audience who’d be unfamiliar with the long word?), rather I was interested in why people still seem so resistant to the advice, despite it appearing in pretty much every writing guide you could ever lay your hand on.
Joanna:
I suppose that the habitual use of long or obscure words when perfectly suitable shorter words exist is probably a variation on jargonism (my coined term). I define it as choosing words to establish an inner circle of knowledge and to keep “outsiders” from understanding or feeling accepted. Another variant is the “I’m-so-smart-I-use-words-you-don’t-understand” syndrome.
I don’t consider the people who fall into either category as effective “writers”.
Nevertheless, and now I am nit-picking, I can’t imagine an occasion when one would willingly sacrifice precise communication for reaching more people with a message that is not quite, not exactly what one intends the reader to understand or picture.
If there is a shorter word or phrase that works, use it. But, in my opinion, one doesn’t sacrifice elegance, grace, character development or period authenticity just to avoid longer words
But that may be why there are so many writers. We can’t all say the same thing, can we?
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William, indeed we can’t. And I guess my answer would be that there might be occasions depending on your readership, and your intention. But the choice of word would all be driven by communication.
Joanna
Can’t disagree with that. Joanna, you are both patient and wise. Happy New year.
Thanks William, I do my best
Next to the problem of overly long words is overly complex sentences. I suspect the same is true for grammar as vocabulary: some write that way to impress or sound more educated, others write that way to grasp at getting the precise meaning they want. Other than that, I agree with what the rest said here.
Oh, and on (mis-)using words like “utilize:” one of my pet peeves is the word “literally”. Once I even saw, “They were literally exploding with laughter.” A fate worse than any other death, I think, and probably added for emphasis. But there are many other examples that could be added.
Actually, “actually” is one of those excess words.
Williams last blog post..The Human Drive to Make Art – Tribal and otherwise
William, I think I’d put “actually” in a slightly different category, because it’s used so much in conversational language, almost as a substitute for “and anothe thing…” Round here anyway, maybe not universally
Boniface, thanks for that. I suspect a lot of people don’t realise it’s perfectly okay to chop sentences into smaller parts. And the shorter the better. Long sentences are a throwback to a more classical style of writing and education which doesn’t really cut much ice nowadays.
Misuse of ‘literally’ can be quite entertaining – it doesn’t really bug me though, because the results can be so funny, like the one you mentioned
Let’s compare.
How is “actually, I don’t like it” different in meaning from “I don’t like it”?
And which is most powerful?
Just asking. Words are my life.
Williams last blog post..The Human Drive to Make Art – Tribal and otherwise
William, in meaning, no difference, and yes, the second is more powerful. The first might be used for effect – to soften the tone, to leave room for your reader to agree but disagree, to signal you’re being conversational and maybe not so dogmatic… see what I mean?
“Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.” – Rudyard Kipling
James
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I just re-read Strunk and Wite’s quote at the top. Personally, “pretentious” and “coy” are not words I would consider “10-centers.” Ironic, what?
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James nice quote, thanks. It reminds us to take good care of the words we chose to use – including the unnecessarily long ones!
William interesting point. They’re probably not 10-centers… not now anyway, but maybe when the book was written more so? I can also see that they give a bit of rhythm to the sentence which gives it additional impact. What plainer words would you go for instead?
I would rephrase – Avoid words that your readers are not familiar with.
Williams last blog post..Tribal Art – by Talia Quandelacy, Zuni carver
William, yes, that works… although there is something about the original that has the quoteworthiness… I think you and I are destined to have slightly converging views on this one!
Another interesting article, and the conversation that followed was quite insightful. I suppose I will give my two penn’eth, as it were.
As always, my viewpoint is that of a fictional writer more than a blogger, as that is what I write. I believe that simple language is best when wanting to address a wide audience. Longer, or less common, words can bring a certain ‘flavour’ to a piece of writing, however. As an example: “A dark blue dress.” doesn’t have, to me at least, the same effect as “A sapphire dress.” That and ‘sapphire’ would also imply a specific shade of the colour.
However, upon entering the roleplaying world, I was met by a group of people who placed a lot of importance on the length and obscurity of the words you used when writing. Perhaps to fit in, or just through other influence, I too found myself writing with more complex words.
Two years on, I look back at that time and compare with my recent writing, where I choose to use simpler everyday words, I am much happier with my writing.
I interpret the question being asked as being in reference to people who either seem to, or actually do, use a dictionary for what can feel like every other word. (Do correct me if I’m wrong)
And I would have to say, from my experience, that it is indeed to appear more intelligent. But, often people will simply enter the ‘normal’ word they wanted to use into an online thesaurus and pick the longest word they can find. Or most intelligent-sounding. They don’t bother to double check the meaning of that word, and it comes across as unnatural in prose. Giving the impression opposite to what they intended.
Matt, yes, the conversation on this one was and is proving to be fascinating. I’m constantly learning from it.
Your example from the role playing world has parallels to the world of academia doesn’t it? The desire not just to appear intelligent, but to fit in.
I suppose part of my motivation in writing this was to learn what drove the desire to use unnecessarily long words. Because there’s no point giving advice that doesn’t speak to the underlying driver of the person who’s doing the writing.
You are right. I have analysed recent successful fiction and one of the key ingredients is the use of short action verbs. Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road’ is a good example. I wonder what Jane Austen would make of it all?
Ian, that sounds like a very interesting analysis… thanks for highlighting it. And reminding me to read ‘The Road’
I think this is kind of a poor example to use to make this argument. I’m not saying that it’s not a valid one or that the question you’re asking isn’t valid, just that the study you cite doesn’t give us much in way of understanding the complexities of graduate school admissions. Most will tell you to avoid using “jargon” and complicated words in admission essays for graduate school not because it’s a bad idea to have in your writing, but because the people who read admission essays and who are responsible for choosing candidates for their programs are not necessarily educated in your particular field of interest. A literature program, for example, will have professors with interests in all fields, but not all of them may be represented on the committee that selects applicants. So, you avoid being too specialized in your language intentionally to avoid seeming phony. You’ll have the opportunity to display your lingual abilities in a writing sample, which does not necessarily have to be complicated language-wise, but certainly doesn’t need to be overly simplistic.
And it’s also really stupid to ask students how they would rate essays when students have absolutely no influence on who gets picked for a graduate program. The people that are on those committees tend to be professors with significant experience in their field and as teachers, who are also significant for the college.
But I do think this is a good topic to discuss. And when we get down to it, it’s perhaps important to recognize that there are no hardset rules in writing. Yes, we can say “show, don’t tell” all we want, but successful writers have and still do combat this rule and others on a regular basis. This isn’t to say that the staple rules of writing aren’t important, it’s just worth acknowledging that we do not have to stick with them always. Postmodernism is a particularly telling mode of literature when it comes to writing conventions, because there really aren’t many literature movements that push to be outside the standards of fiction than postmodern texts.
I think it comes down to the context and the style of the writer. A complicated, large word can certainly be useful if it really fits, if it can’t be adequately reduced to something simpler without losing its impact on the text itself. Beyond that, I think we’re capable of fiddling with language all we want. We’re writers. That’s what we do. Poets did it before fiction and literary criticism, and now fiction and lit crit can do it before we’re replaced by something else (which probably never will happen).
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SMD thanks for taking the time to leave such a lengthy comment on this issue. I’m sorry you felt it was a poor example to use – I found it an interesting way to get into this topic and it does seem to have generated some valuable discussion round about it. I agree there are always times that a complicated lare word is the only one to use… but that’s different from choosing to use long words in order to impress or to convey a particular dimension of your creative or professional life. That’s not to say people are wrong to make those choices – depending on the environment they’re working in, it might still be the way to get on, get promoted, get admitted etc.
Now, I can agree that use of excessively complicated words hinders communication but if you wish to get your company message across so that it stands out and gets remembered then using cliche and the same boring words will achieve nothing!
Writing simply, as someone put it is a giant copout! English is a very beautiful language that has been mauled to death in recent years,
How many times to lazy writers, often laying claims to being copy writers use expressions such as; ultimate experience, unique and so on?
One doesn’t choose long words to impress but to show you care about your product, service and yourself. That you stand out from the maddening, comfortable mediocre.
Please, don’t encourage simplicity it appeals only to the simple!
Nice article though, Thank you.
Ray, I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one… I don’t think simple and short means cliched and boring – it means stretching to find just the right plain word. I’d go for Einstein’s take on simplicity too: “everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler”. There’s quite an art to that
If I’m reading a book then I want challenging material with words that capture me and make me want to go look them up in a dictionary, but when I’m speaking to someone there is no need for using complex words. why should a writer have to choose to use simpler words when he could use more complex and interesting words? It IS his choice after all. If you don’t want to deal with long complex words then…wait for somebody to make a simpler version. i personaly like challenging language. if you have the time to sit down and read a book then you have time to pull out a dictionary.
Shelbie thanks for chipping in to this conversation – I love the way it keeps on twisting and turning! I take your point about literature, and that there are times we enjoy the challenge of learning new words. I’d still maintain they can be simple (and new) rather than unnecessarily long and complex though.
i don’t think it’s a bad thing, it shows promise and with a good English teacher you can learn to use the vocabulary you have to produce small words with the occasional big word in your essay. it is a sign of intelligence to have a huge vocabulary, but as they teach in English you always write with your audience in mind. of course a true sign of intellect isn’t in the words themselves but in the structure of what you’re writing. the over all flow of things, something I’m yet to master; because if you ever read a book like the lord of the rings, with words you never seen before you’ll find that you automatically figure out there meanings because the author structured his paragraphs so well. just my thoughts.
Groogy, thanks for chipping in. I agree with what you say at the end: you hardly notice longer or more challenging words in piece of well written and well structured writing, becaues the meaning is obvious from the context. It’s a skillful way of expanding horizons and opening people up to more interesting and challenging words.
The avoidance of ‘big words’ is pretence in itself. When writing fiction, use the voice of the narrator! If the narrator is a character that uses ‘big words’ (correctly or not, on paper or vocally) then use them! Come on, play with language! Has no one here read Lolita? Genius.
And this whole short sentence vs. long sentence thing: neither is right nor wrong. It’s the old Faulkner vs. Hemingway debate. To me, it is ironic that Hemingway’s writing is the one that seems to need editing. Yes, I’m aware that Hemingway repeated words (a lot) as an expression of the argot of his characters (though it seems it was his own argot, since he used the same style in all his books. Is that not authorial intrusion?). But it is obvious that Faulkner was the one who was honestly interested in language and pushed the limits of the art form (and you’ve never read sentences that long unless you’ve read Proust). This argument is closely related to that of the difference between the aesthetic judgments of the decadent movement and the puritans – you can guess who liked short sentences.
Me? Well… I’m certainly not going to side with the puritans. Give me lusciousness any day. Even if I have to look it up.
Ray thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. I take your point about fiction – the original piece wasn’t really about fiction, more non-fiction and academic writing where words are unnecessarily long. The idea was to explore why people opt for those words that are longer than they need to be. I don’t think that’s the same as going for puritanical word choice in a story… I hope not anyway. I love lusciousness
‘Why People Choose To Use Long Words” was an interesting discussion. Too many people are taught in writing programs to be as obscure as possible. I have read(and heard) too much poetry that is too vague and using long words often accomplishes that purpose–to lend yourself not be understood.
I think it is the hardest thing in the world to write with clarity and simplicity. I always admire a writer who accomplishes that and I know it is work to get there and the beauty of that piece is what is left out. Stephen King in his book on writing says, ‘Take out what is not the story’. Long words have narrower meanings and the use of small words lend to greater complexity for they have more flexibility.
Hi Siggy thanks for joining this long running and interesting conversation
I’m intrigued by the idea that some people might actually set out with the intention of being obscure. I hadn’t thought of it that way but maybe it’s another (false) belief it’s the way to look learned or clever. I have to confess to preferring poetry that’s in very plain language and uses rhythm to create the effect. I too admire writers who can write with clarity and simplicity, and it’s what I aim for in my own writing too. Thanks for the reminder 
Personally, I found that there are times (which occur rather frequently) when I feel the ten cent word isn’t appropriate. I find that each individual word puts across a different picture , so when the less complicated word does not put across the right picture I refrain from using it. I do not actively attempt to make my writing more complicated, essentially, I write with only the image of what I put across in mind, and don’t think about the language itself that much. I’m not sure how much this applies to other people though. The only times I search for different words (as in, by using a thesaurus etc) is when I find that I am using a certain word very frequently.
I also agree strongly with what Ray said earlier, when writing fiction, the vocabulary needs to be changed as per the character and setting, as well as the mood. If a person is deep in thought, he or she is more likely to use long words than otherwise, (this is what I have found anyway) so this too needs to be accounted for. Also, sticking to simple language limits the vocabulary and consequentially mean that the frequency of the words you use will increase. This, if not done well can make your work very repetitive. Well all in all I prefer the usage of a reasonable amount of ‘twenty dollar’ words over a piece with only simple language.
Good idea, in fact I suggest we toss out half of the English language. Basically that is what we would be doing in order to accommodate those who take for granted the wonderful language they speak. Too few care to truly pay homage to their spoken language and allow themselves a vernacular of abysmal proportions. The English language was not created overnight and as such should not be viewed as something meaningless and open for simplicity. If using long words is such a burden on society, it may be appropriate to cut each dictionary in half and do away with all thesaurases. I would have felt alot better about an article entitle, “Profanity, Pollution to the English Language”.
This is largely in response to the previous comment:
Long words are a burden to only a certain portion of society. There is another, of which I am a part, who thrive on these words. So, simply deleting the words will only cause another problem. People will probably find it more difficult to express themselves wholly. And through lack of expression, we may actually become more shallow people. If you take this particular course of action to an extreme, we might as well revert back to Neanderthal language, that is after all the simplest is it not? As you said, english was not created overnight. The words were obviously created due to a necessity, somebody thought they were necessary to express perfectly what they were trying to put across. So the lack of those words will result in the reduction of the ‘power’ of expression that the english language is capable of.
@ Winter thanks for chipping in – as I think I said earlier in this comment thread the piece wasn’t directly about fiction where vocabulary, as you say, does change according to character and setting. And your search for the right word for the picture you have in mind isn’t what you’d call using an unnecessarily long word for effect… it’s the search for the right word;-) I love our language and vocabulary too (including some very short but obscure words!) – it’s the use of unnecessarily complex and difficult words to make you look intelligent that I was talking about here
@ Wade, don’t worry, the dictionaries are safe yet… This piece is just about the use of unnecessarily long words for perceived benefit to the writer.
I think this was mentioned earlier, but most often a long word is capable of carrying meaning (and possibly weight) that a shorter word cannot. As such each word is to a very great extent, unique. If you agree with this, then there can never be a long word used just for the lengths sake unless it is not perfectly used in the first place. Do you think I am right in this analysis?
@ winter, I think my answer is that it depends on your intention – what it is you want to communicate, and to whom. Shorter words might communicate more powerfully with a wider group of people. Hope that helps
Like alot of people out there?
I see this going on in the dumb media, or lazy people that dont have a clue to what thier talking about?
Like the dumb thing of people saying that a the guy that does the Weather on TV, or Radio is some sophisticated word like a meteorologist,
and not a plain word like the weatherman,
Like it used to be,
Get’s on my nerve’s big time,
and all these ignorant people putting a zation on the end of word’s like customazation their trying to act or be something they arnt in front of a silly camera,
I mean I started seeing this about 3 yrs ago,
And its totally stupid to most people that know better,
Mannn people start using plain language,
And PLAIN WORD’S IN YOUR TALK OK,
Quit trying to be Mr, or Mrs Cool,
Or Ive made it,You Think, So I can act like a nerd that don’t know anything anyway,
Plain normal word’s for plain people
This is in response to the previous message.
Are you serious?? Is this message real or is someone making an ironic statment by having no sentence structure, paragraph structure, or really any type of cohesive thought whatsoever. Words are out of place, not in existence and forget about apostrophes here because there are completely forgotten. What is with the question mark at the beginning of the, I assume paragraph?? What is a zation?? I could not find that word anywhere in any language.
Yea, I am serious.
Never mind guy,
Im talking about stupid TV that these ignorant people say thing’s like they don’t know what thier talking about?
Im not Into impressing other’s,
Just talking simple, and see where they are when im talking to them guy ok,
Typer,
Hi 11;00 typer I do know what you mean about people using sophisticated words when plain would do – when plain words would be better – I suppose the question I was trying to explore was what really drives people to do this when a lot of the ‘advice’ says not to (especially in writing, I’m not sure about the TV!) I think in part it must be the belief that you’ll appear more intelligent or sophisticated as a result, even if the evidence suggests otherwise.
Wade, it’s just a different way of text-talking… ‘zation’ was being used as an example of additional endings that get put on to words to make them longer… and more complicated
My heartache is with needless words and terms ‘invented’ to prove the writer’s intellect and originality when, in fact, they confuse the reader. With regard to stilted language, I believe that the issue is truly precision of language — using the most appropriate word (and explaining it if necessary) to communicate a point.
“The secret is simplicity – not the simplicity that distorts the truth, produces a void, and is another name for mediocrity, but simplicity that is clarity, the light of intelligence.”
- Fernand Braudel
you make an excellent point in your article. i love words, long words included but I hate the unneccessary use of long words and convoluted language to pretend to be cleverer or more specialist than you are. I was dismayed when my line manager in my new job commented on one of my pieces of work to say ‘you can throw more jargon in there, this is for people who know about us’ seeing as it was actually a general leaflet about our work I think my approach of simplicity and clarity was more appropriate!
Crafty Green Poet´s last blog ..Away for a few days!
A congeries of short words infused with the preposterously lengthy is, I believe, of maximum efficiency when the meaning or information contained within it is of greater import than the way in which it is presented.
To me, nothing more delights than a delectable, obscure word of inconsequential length and if I am reading for pleasure rather than practical enlightenment, I would drown in blissful incomprehension rather than understand every dull word.
$20 words have a much greater scope for being phonetically pleasing; ruminate ‘equivocate’ in comparison to the syllabically longer ‘beat about the bush’. Appositely, in this case the word is actually more succinct than the simpler phrase, bringing the phrasing of the original question to reconsideration. But ‘equivocate’ is such a pretty word; when would it ever have a chance to glitter in a vocabulary that always had to make sense to everyone?!
I, personally, cram unnecessarily long words into both written and spoken language because they make me smile, they feel nice on the tongue and the letters themselves look pretty assembled in such a peculiar array, superincumbent upon the page. And, just as one can enjoy music in a foreign language without understanding the meaning of the words, I enjoy hearing people speak even whilst remaining nescient.
But not just that- this sophistry also occurs, unwarranted and unwelcome, in my everyday speech. I am sixteen years old and encumbered with the normal concupiscence- but only for words. A hopeless social failure. I don’t particularly like the majority of my predictable peers, and yet I maintain a potent desire to communicate with them which is impeded by inability. I am terrified of people. All people. I know that it is an illogical fear but that doesn’t make it stop. The more terrified I am, the less understandable the nonsense that spews forth from my mouth becomes. Quite frequently it is interspersed with snippets of Latin, Spanish, Russian, French, German, Italian or ancient Greek, which makes me an incredible sciolist as my knowledge of the majority of those languages is woefully superficial.
My point here being that, rather than being used to impress people, long words can be used to defend oneself, to distance oneself from everything you fear to be part of. When you hold the world at sesqupedalians’ length because it is more comfortable to be misunderstood and retain the suspected potential of being an interesting person than to be understood thoroughly and known to be, as you fear, a most incredible bore.
Bob sorry I missed your comment at the time of posting. I agree with you about the unnecessary words. Great quote on simplicity by the way!
Crafty Green Poet I can’t ever think of a reason to throw in jargon for the sake of it. Simplicity and clarity will always be more appropriate, no matter who is reading it!
Odysseus indeed, there are times when people will deliberately choose to use long words.