Continuing my series of tips to help you think about how to improve your writing…
6. Never use a long word where a short one will do
Question to ask: is my meaning clear enough for my target reader?
How do you upgrade your high school essay or book report in under five minutes? Easy – swap out a couple of short words for longer ones, courtesy of your good friend Roget.
That may be exactly how you thought in high school. But as we get older, we learn that words are not interchangeable units. They have shades of meaning that distinguish them from one another. Mature readers and writers learn to tune into the nuances that give English its richness and its pleasure.
Unless you’re a pro, using highfalutin vocabulary can be a minefield. A ‘clever’ word used wrongly instantly gives you away as overconfident or amateurish.
People appreciate clear, crisp writing using words they understand. So keep it simple.
- Communicating meaning is more important than style.
- The thesaurus is not always your friend. Use the word you know rather than gamble on a word you think sounds more impressive.
- ‘In-house’ vocabulary can put distance between us and some readers (especially the media or statutory bodies). Christian organisations need to be especially careful with words and phrases like ‘sharing vision’, ‘birthing programmes’, ‘quality teaching’.
More under Writing Well.
Filed under: In-house training, Writing and copywriting, becoming a writer, communication, connecting with readers, how to write, meaning, target reader, the message, vocabulary, writing, writing simply, writing tips, writing well
I’m getting old. I find that I can’t remember simple words. They sit there on the tip of my tongue, so to speak, and taunt me into saying all kinds of gibberish while trying to fill the space as I search hopelessly for the word I really want. There’s a very good ten dollar medical term for what I’m describing, too, but I can’t remember it either.
To be honest, I’ve had this problem my entire life.
Roget is the only tool that helps.
I agree. Using the thesaurus to find words you don’t know and never use is not good for your writing, though it might help you improve your vocabulary.
But it’s an excellent tool for finding the words you do know. You know, like when you can’t remember what the word is for …
Oh, bloody hell. But you know what I mean, right?
BTW, your advice in this series is spot on, and well delivered.
Not that it means much, coming from someone who is still too cowardly to write her own blog.
[...] Fact: simpler words make you sound more clever One lesson I try to encourage writers to learn early is never to use long, complex words where short, clear ones will do. [...]