If a Man would that his Writings have an Effect on the Generality of Readers, he had better imitate that Gentleman, who would use no Words in his Works that was not well understood by his Cook-maid.
I couldn’t have Said it better Myself. If only all writers followed the sage advice of Benjamin Franklin.
As I understand it, the purpose of writing is to be understood. So when words are used that most readers don’t understand – ie big words – the meaning is lessened. And the reader is most likely left annoyed and/or frustrated.
If there was an Olympic event for the number of ridiculously, incomprehensibly obscure words one can fit into a single paragraph it would have been won by the author of a non-fiction book I read a little while ago.
I have a fairly large vocabulary, I read widely, I love language and I love to learn new words but this book drove me crazy! Crazy I tell you!
Here’s just a sample: ostinato, psittacosis, paracosm, and (this one takes the cake) sententiousness! Even now, I don’t have the energy to look them up in the dictionary.
I just don’t get it. Why the big words? If writers are trying to impress their readers they may want to use another strategy. A study conducted by Princeton University revealed that readers perceive a writer’s use of big words not as a sign of intelligence but rather the opposite; the more big words used, the less intelligent, in the reader’s estimation, the writer becomes. The rationale being that only someone lacking intelligence would attempt to create an image of intelligence by using words that no one understands.* I love that! We readers aren’t as naïve and shallow as some writers think.
So why do some writers feel compelled to use big words? It apparently makes them come across as less intelligent than if they had used simple words and it impedes comprehension. Am I missing something here?
How do you feel about the use of ridiculously, incomprehensibly obscure words?
* Disclaimer: I’m certainly not suggesting that the author of the crazy-making book I read is not intelligent, of course not. It just begs the question why he feels the need to use words that most of his readers wouldn’t know the meaning of.
