Sometimes I edit documents that are overflowing with big words. I recently helped someone with a graduate school admissions essay that was made up almost entirely of big words; and some were quite unusual. It made the writing sound silly. Members of the admissions committee might have needed a dictionary just to get through it—this would likely annoy them.
This applicant wasn’t going to be impressing anyone with those big words. So I made some edits to his word choices and explained why.
Using big words that your readers may not understand instantly separates them from the content—this is exactly what you don’t want to do. You want your readers to become immersed in your ideas. If they can’t understand, or if they get irritated by having to stop reading and look up words, they won’t be focused on your ideas.
Your purpose as a writer (or as a professional who is writing within your field) is to communicate information to your readers, rather than to demonstrate your vocabulary. You don’t want to confuse your readers and drive them away. If it makes sense to use a simple word, use a simple word. Basic language can often be effective. Use a thesaurus when you need help thinking of an appropriate word, but don’t overuse it.
But if you avoid using big words in your writing, aren’t you dumbing down your writing?
You aren’t dumbing it down, you’re adapting it. For example, a graduate admissions committee is certainly not composed of unintelligent people, but it’s still not a good idea to make them have to stop and look up several words. Help them breeze through your essay so they can learn about who you are as quickly as possible. Although I see reading as a constant source of education, and I think people should look up unfamiliar words, it’s a balance. For example, I wouldn’t teach students using language they don’t understand. That would be ineffective. Instead, I’d strike a balance between reaching them where they are and asking them to challenge themselves. It’s most important to adapt your writing to your audience.
Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, vocabulary is important. But so is helping your readers stay focused on your ideas not on your vocabulary. Don’t complicate your writing. Provide an easy reading experience, so your readers can understand your content. This might mean expressing your ideas in the most simple, concise way. Don’t use big words for the sake of using big words. Your message may get lost.
