Devon

Many times I have been told not to use larger words in my work. Why? Because people who read it don't understand them and have to look them up.

Granted, a writer shouldn't go overboard with larger words that would bog down his piece and obstruct the flow. (Which I take great pains to avoid doing) However, wouldn't having a scattering of 'larger' words throughout the book in order to enhance it also enhance our readers' minds in the process?

Don't we, when we are younger, learn larger and more sophisticated words through context and/or looking them up? Why should we not have to do that in our adulthood as well?

Why are so many adults fixated on only knowing the words that they know, and feel that 'having to look something up' or discerning what a word means through context would somehow diminish their worth and the pleasure they should derive from reading a well-written piece?

Some people are always happy to look up unfamiliar words they've encountered in books that they read. Wouldn't it be considered contributing to one's intelligence--and indicate a refusal to join the 'dumbing-down' of society--to do so?

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Cornish Maid

I personally don't go purposely looking up words to make it sound more 'grown up' (for want of a better explanation). I prefer to keep my writing simple so that everbody can understand. I also feel that my writing is naturally taking on larger words as I progress and learn.

My advice to anybody; don't force yourself to use those longer words. Let them flow naturally.

You seem to write beautifully enough to me, Devon. Very clear and to the point.

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Proof read carefully to see if you any words out. unknown.

MichelleWritesStuff

You should, imo, select the right word. Sometimes it's the word that a kindergarten student would understand, and sometimes it's a lesser known word. There are times where the word is perfect, and you use it with the understanding that a few people might not know it. I don't see a purpose in choosing to use either difficult words or words that everybody should understand.

It's a mistake to think that synonyms are truly interchangable. You can't just randomly add bigger words and keep the meaning the same. Nor can you "dumb it down" and keep the same effect.

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Michelle
(Bring Your Own Subtext.)

Amber Leaf

i personally dont mind looking 'big' words up when i am reading something but when writing a book using big words can alienate some readers.

i prefer to use the most appropriate word for what i am writing.

faithless

If the reader has to bring out the dictionary, it breaks the flow of the story. What if you had to look a word up every page? Wouldn't it get annoying fast? I don't think it makes people stupid for not knowing what "exsasperated" means. Ignorant? Maybe. I don't even see why our language needs these words when simpler ones will do. It is as if they were created so the educated could flaunt their "intelligence." Writing is about communication, and certain words are not needed for that purpose. Some large words have unique meaning, but if a large word can be replaced with a small word, why not do it?

Not exactly. It would be contributing to our knowledge, and not as much to our intelligence. (It depends on how you define intelligence.) You can memorize the dictionary, but it won't make your brain work any faster. Futhermore, a lack of knowledge, in this case, does not make one dumb, but ignorant.

I know how you feel about this because I felt the same way once, but writing is about communication.

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is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
-Albert Einstein

Fifth_Column_Media

Language for writers is the primary way of communicating (hand gestures are hard through a book, lol) so I think its very very important to use prcicely the words that get your meaning across large or small.

There are always words that mean the same thing but when I read my own work, I always seem to be changing the small words more often than the large ones simply because it changed the feel of the piece.

As for dumbing down society, I thought when I first read the post title that you were talking about dumbing down the topics that are covered. That can be a real problem too as I really don't want to listen to anymore celebrity gossip news pieces (I don't know if you'd call that dumbing down or not but they sound pretty dumb to me).

Not too be too self promotional, but that's kind of what I'm striving to fight against with my magazine. Check it out if you get the chance, the address is in my signature.

Take care,

D.A.N.

Owner/Editor - Sights & Sounds from the Fifth Column
The Fifth Column Online Magazine - www.fifthcolumnmagazine.com

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