Any word choice you make will impact your work.
Whatever you are writing – words matter.
The English language is messy. Someone I know described English as the language that takes other languages into back-alleys and shakes them down for loose grammar.
Because English is how it is, many different words can be applied to convey this, that, or the other thing. Some words are simple and direct while others are more nuanced.
For example – happy. This is a word that everyone knows. But happy can be expanded upon. Words to take it to the next level include ecstatic, joyful, glad, content, jubilant, thrilled – and many others. Some convey a greater degree of happy while some are lesser.
Because of this, we always get to choose what words we desire to use to convey any given message. Written or spoken, our word choice can say a lot about us.
Hence why it’s important to be mindful of the words you choose.
Big words are not always best
I know people who will use a big, expressive word in lieu of something simpler.
For example – instead of saying they are glad they’ll tell you how they’re exhilarated. Rather than telling you that they read a book, they will express how they deciphered a tome. Instead of saying they saw that they’ll say they witnessed that.
Sometimes it’s good to stretch your verbal legs, so to speak. New words can be fun – and depth of meaning in words can be useful in expressing yourself with greater clarity.
Sometimes, however, you create something less desirable. You might come across as aloof, unapproachable, and even condescending.
You can usually tell when someone is forcing it. It feels out of place. It sounds or reads weird in context.
While I love to use unique words to describe some things – other things are best kept simple.
Humankind has a madness for leaving simplicity behind. Like adding complexity somehow adds depth. While sometimes that’s true – there are plenty of times it’s not.
In Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, they talk about the Emerald Tablet. On that emerald is the basic layout for the masterwork of the alchemists.
Yet tracts, interpretations, and in-depth works analyzing and studying the meaning of the symbols of the Emerald Tablet have come into being in the quest to find a better way to achieve the masterwork. But ultimately, it’s as simple as the few lines imprinted on the Emerald Tablet.
Often sticking to the KISS principle is best. (KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid). Be direct and choose simple words to get the point across.
Word choice can empower and disempower
One of the things that’s most distressing about news coverage is how they often use nuance and innuendo rather than direct statements. Hence, they tell us how a politician made a questionable statement rather than telling us directly that the politician lied.
More egregious than that, in many ways, is how they choose to not give some people their own names. “The wife of so-and-so” or “so-and-so’s girlfriend” appears in the headline where the woman’s name should be.
I recognize that sometimes they’re being wary to avoid getting sued. However, it frequently gets taken to the nth degree, and the whole story gets presented from an indirect place. Which leaves it open to interpretation.
For example – wouldn’t it be great if they stated outright that multiple members of the United States Congress were complicit in the January 6 insurrection? Thus, should be removed from office per the Constitution? But no. Softer phrases and speculative statements are used instead.
On a more personal level – the words you choose can empower both you and the people you interact with. This is where knowing your audience is massively important.
If I am writing or speaking to a group of academics and intellectuals – I might choose more expressive words and phrases than if I am speaking to a group of kids. A kid will understand “calm down” over “be serene.”
Knowing your audience will help you see if the words you choose empower or disempower. If I know the person I’m speaking to isn’t going to grasp the meaning of a word – and use it anyhow – that’s me disempowering via subtle condescension. If instead, I choose a word they’ll fully grasp onto and understand – I’m empowering them.
Word choice matters.
Fiction and writing dialogue
When it comes to works of fiction, how a character speaks can often be expressed via word choices.
For example – I often have my noble, high-born, and more sophisticated characters use limited to no contractions when they speak. Thus, they cannot rather than can’t, do not rather than don’t, and so on.
Likewise, a character with more intelligence is probably going to use big words of deeper meaning and expression than others. Where a more common character might study something – they will examine it.
Apart from dialogue – the words I choose for my fiction will impact my reader. That matters, because if a text is too complicated – or the words I use are too obscure – it might turn off the reader.
Even in fiction, it’s important to know your audience. Write too high-brow or overuse certain words and phrases and you will create dissonance that your audience will respond negatively to.
I know, for example, that some of my character and place names in my fiction are not simple. I also know that this turns some people off. Yet, I still feel that in that context they belong.
I work hard to be aware of my word choice. Hence why I chose “aware” in that sentence over “cognizant.” While there is added context in “cognizant”, it isn’t necessary to the subject over “aware”. Simple idea – simpler word choice.
The other issue in fiction is repetition. I could make all dialogue “he said” and “she said” and “they asked” – but sometimes “remarked,” “stated,” “queried,” and the like offer nuance to the reader for the conveyance of the dialogue.
“’Look out!’ he said” is not as expressive as “’Look out!’ he cried”. Another example of the importance of word choice in fiction.
I think a lot about word choice
Reading this, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I have chosen some deeper, more nuanced words rather than their simpler cousins. There are two main reasons for this. First – because I believe you will understand the context of their use. Second – they express the full context of meaning I desire that their lesser cousins won’t.
I love words. And I know that sometimes I will use a more nuanced word where simple would do. But that’s me.
Still, I am mindful of my audience. For example, depending on who I know I’m talking to or who is reading this, I will choose to use “ergo” or “thus” to clarify a thought.
That’s the key. Mindfulness. Staying mindful and aware of your word choice will help you convey a given message, thought, idea, or what-have-you to the person(s) you’re addressing. When you are mindful of this, you avoid coming across with too much arrogance, condescension, or even disconnectedness.
Any word choice you make will impact your work. No matter the type of writing – or in speech – your word choice should be considered. That makes all the difference in getting points across and whether you connect or not.
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