When we write anything, whether it’s a friendly letter or a research paper, it can often be tempting to try to impress readers with “big” words.  But, these big—or pretentious—words can, in fact, alienate readers and/or give them the impression that the writer is trying too hard to appear intelligent.   In many cases, simplicity is the key to successful communication. 

A writer’s diction, or word choice, can greatly affect his or her readers.  Brevity is often the most helpful tool a writer can use to keep his or her audience engaged.  Straightforward language helps writing flow smoothly—the reader won’t have to pause as often to look up complex terms or decipher cryptic phrases.

Try to eliminate pretentious language by analyzing questionable words and phrases.  Ask yourself, “Can this word or phrase be replaced with more modest language without changing the original meaning?” Take a look at the following chart, which lists a few pretentious words and phrases and their simpler counterparts.

While using larger words and phrases is not specifically a grammar issue and may be appropriate in certain academic fields, writers must remember not to assume too much about their audiences’ existing vocabulary skills.  Therefore, writers should perform a thorough analysis of their audiences before they decide what type of language to include in their work. Use the simplest word that most precisely says what you mean.

Along with our website, we recommend the following site:  Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster Online.  Each website includes a dictionary and thesaurus which allows visitors to look up related words and the connections between certain words.

Test your understanding by replacing the pretentious words or phrases in each of the following sentences with more straightforward language.

1. Susan has always been an incorrigible romantic when it comes to her taste in movies.

2. I plan to requisition more office supplies by means of email.

3. When will Mark be in a position to utilize his new set of power tools?

4. In light of the fact that I have to study for an English exam, I cannot attend the party next week.

5. Sheila is diffident about orating publicly.

Answers

1. Susan has always been a hopeless romantic about her taste in movies.

2. I plan to request more office supplies by email.

3. When will Mark be able to use his new set of power tools?

4. Since I have to study for an English exam, I can’t attend the party next week.

5. Sheila is shy about public speaking.

*NOTE:  There is more than one way to rephrase an overly wordy sentence.  Simply ensure that the sentence flows smoothly and that brevity is used in the appropriate places.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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