Showing off your vocabulary in articles...yay or nay?

[Jim Luther Davis]

I've noticed some writers who make it a habit to show off their vocabulary by using words typically found on GRE study guide flash gards. Words such as: dyspeptic, ostensibly, cognizant, etc.

While I'm not suggesting writers should write as if their audience is a bunch of preschoolers, but I personally don't see the point in using huge words that the common reader would need to resort to Google or a dictionary to understand the definition.

Not only does it take away from your article, but it also makes you come off as a bit arrogant or pompous. Am I alone in this?

Just a random pet peeve, I guess.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Your threads are vituperative.

 

[93Devil]

I thought newspaper stories were meant to be read on the sixth grade reading level.

If you want to have fun with words, then do work for an outlet that caters to more advanced readers.

 

[Jim Luther Davis]

Your threads are vituperative.

Oh, aren't you the witty one. ::)

It's an honest question. From my experience, I've heard mixed thoughts from colleagues and editors.

 

[da man]

If you make your readers scramble for a dictionary, you lose. The reader, that is.

Of course, it depends a little on the story. You can get away with it once in awhile in something longer and more involved. And it is hard to resist -- I have been known to work in a "redoubtable" or some such once in awhile. But for the most part, you don't want to go that route.

 

[black dude with pompano]

I agree with the original poster in theory....there's no reason to throw in a big word just to impress people. But everyone has quirks in their vocabulary and might use a word without realizing it's a stretch for readers. I don't think it's deliberate most of the time.

For example, although I probably wouldn't use the "ostensibly" in the gamer I'm writing this evening, I wouldn't rule it out entirely because it's a word I use quite often. That's probably blinded me to the fact that it's not a common word for most people.

When I use the online thesaurus, it's almost always to find a smaller, simpler word...unlike high school English, when we'd all use it to find a bigger, more impressive word.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The people using these words probably aren't doing it to show off. They're probably doing it because these words are a natural, everyday part of their vocabulary and fit naturally into their writing styles. Dyspeptic, ostensibly and cognizant are not words that cause a great deal of consternation (that means anxiety or dismay) to a person with well-developed reading habits.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I've noticed some writers who make it a habit to show off their vocabulary by using words typically found on GRE study guide flash gards. Words such as: dyspeptic, ostensibly, cognizant, etc.

While I'm not suggesting writers should write as if their audience is a bunch of preschoolers, but I personally don't see the point in using huge words that the common reader would need to resort to Google or a dictionary to understand the definition.

Not only does it take away from your article, but it also makes you come off as a bit arrogant or pompous. Am I alone in this?

Just a random pet peeve, I guess.

This is my pet peeve with George Will columns.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I thought newspaper stories were meant to be read on the sixth grade reading level.

If you want to have fun with words, then do work for an outlet that caters to more advanced readers.

Had an editor who implemented this theory in the newsroom. If had to go to the dictionary, the word was out.

 

[Jim Luther Davis]

The people using these words probably aren't doing it to show off. They're probably doing it because these words are a natural, everyday part of their vocabulary and fit naturally into their writing styles. Dyspeptic, ostensibly and cognizant are not words that cause a great deal of consternation (that means anxiety or dismay) to a person with well-developed reading habits.

Bad day? Keep the underlying tones to yourself, tough guy.

P.S. Good luck trying to prove that.

 

[Jim Luther Davis]

I agree with the original poster in theory....there's no reason to throw in a big word just to impress people. But everyone has quirks in their vocabulary and might use a word without realizing it's a stretch for readers. I don't think it's deliberate most of the time.

For example, although I probably wouldn't use the "ostensibly" in the gamer I'm writing this evening, I wouldn't rule it out entirely because it's a word I use quite often. That's probably blinded me to the fact that it's not a common word for most people.

When I use the online thesaurus, it's almost always to find a smaller, simpler word...unlike high school English, when we'd all use it to find a bigger, more impressive word.

True, that makes sense.

I just personally see it being beneficial to gamble on whether your readers may or may not understand the words you're using. Rather go the safer route--seeking a thesaurus as you mention--than risk your reading losing out, as Pompano mentioned.

 

[CD Boogie]

If you lose a reader who doesn't know what ostensibly means, then they're not much of a reader or don't aspire to be anyway. You're a writer, so push the envelope a little bit, that's always been my feeling. And to LongTime's point, I use ostensibly and cognizant in my everyday language, so it's just natural.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

The TV equivalent...

I wrote a script about a bridge collapse. It led to this uncomfortable exchange with my anchor:

Anchor: "What's this word?"
Me: "Girder."
Anchor: "Do you really think our viewers know what a 'girder' is?"
Me: "Yes, Sally, I think just about everyone knows what a girder is."

 

[Jim Luther Davis]

If you lose a reader who doesn't know what ostensibly means, then they're not much of a reader or don't aspire to be anyway. You're a writer, so push the envelope a little bit, that's always been my feeling. And to LongTime's point, I use ostensibly and cognizant in my everyday language, so it's just natural.

Well, I guess it all determines on what you're actually writing on.

For example, what caused me to create this thread was after viewing an article on a high school feature. To me, using that kind of language in a HS gamer/feature--when the large majority of your readers are the kids themselves--doesn't make sense.

I don't think there are too many high school kids who could define "ostensibly", let alone spell it out.

 

[Double Down]

Why assume HS features are written solely (or even primarily) for HS kids?

 

[LongTimeListener]

P.S. Good luck trying to prove that.

Prove what?

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

No.
A writer should have a sizeable vocabulary.
Word choice is everything in the game.
Pick the right ones.

 

[Jim Luther Davis]

Why assume HS features are written solely (or even primarily) for HS kids?

When did I say solely or primarily? But in my honest belief, I think the majority of readers are high school kids.

The High School I attended happened to be very successful in many sports in my state. Many of the teams contended for state titles year in and year out.

What I remember is that a lot of the kids would pass around the papers amongst one another. I don't know if this was unusual, but we even had newspaper stands in the lunch room.

Maybe my experience is unusual, but that's what I expected. My apologies if I'm wrong.

 

[Precious Roy]

I have been in a war with one of our writers on this very issue for the entire time he has been here. I have heard complaints from the community that he is sounding like an ass using big words that nobody understands.
His rationale, "Well, they should get a dictionary and learn them. They should want to better themselves."
I say he's an asshole and alienating readers.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

The TV equivalent...

I wrote a script about a bridge collapse. It led to this uncomfortable exchange with my anchor:

Anchor: "What's this word?"
Me: "Girder."
Anchor: "Do you really think our viewers know what a 'girder' is?"
Me: "Yes, Sally, I think just about everyone knows what a girder is."

What's a girder?