Ever scrolled through a "quick" article and realized it’s actually a 4,000-word manifesto on why kale is better than spinach? You hit the bottom and honestly just think, "that's a lot of words." It’s basically the universal anthem of the 2020s. We are absolutely submerged in text. From the Slack threads that never end to the terms of service agreements that literally nobody reads, we’re processing more written information than any generation in human history.
But here’s the thing.
Most of it is filler. We’ve entered an era of "word inflation" where people think length equals authority. It doesn’t. In fact, most people stop paying attention after the first 200 words if you haven't made a point. I've spent years watching how digital communication evolves, and right now, we’re in a crisis of clarity.
The Science of Why "That’s a Lot of Words" Is a Real Problem
Our brains aren't built for this. Back in the day—like, the 1970s—the average person was exposed to maybe 500 ads a day. Now? Experts like those at the American Marketing Association suggest that number is closer to 10,000. That’s a lot of words to filter out just to get through your morning coffee.
When you see a wall of text, your brain triggers a "cognitive load" response. Basically, your prefrontal cortex looks at the mess and says, "Nope, not today." Research from the Nielsen Norman Group has shown for decades that people rarely read web pages word-for-word. They scan. They look for bold text. They look for headers. They look for a reason to stay. If you give them a "that’s a lot of words" moment without immediate value, they bounce. They’re gone.
I remember reading a study by Microsoft a few years back that claimed our attention spans had dropped to eight seconds—less than a goldfish. Now, that’s actually been debunked as a bit of a myth, but the sentiment holds true. We aren't less capable of focusing; we’re just more selective because we have to be. If you don't respect a reader's time, they won't respect your content.
The Rise of "Fluff" in the AI Era
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Since 2023, the internet has been flooded with AI-generated junk. It’s the ultimate "that's a lot of words" generator. These models are designed to predict the next likely word, which often results in long, flowery sentences that say absolutely nothing. It’s like eating a giant bag of cotton candy—it looks huge, but there’s no substance, and you feel slightly sick afterward.
Genuine expertise is being buried under mountains of "In today's fast-paced digital landscape" and "It is important to note." These are what I call "clearance bin" phrases. They take up space. They sound formal. They provide zero information. When a reader sees these, their internal "fluff detector" goes off.
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When "That’s a Lot of Words" Actually Works (The Depth Exception)
Is length always bad? No. Absolutely not.
If you’re reading a manual on how to perform heart surgery or a deep dive into the geopolitical causes of a specific conflict, you want the words. You need them. The problem isn't the word count itself; it's the density of information.
Take a look at long-form journalism. Outlets like The New Yorker or The Atlantic thrive on pieces that are 5,000 words plus. Why? Because every single word earns its keep. They use narrative tension. They provide specific, granular details that you can't get in a 280-character tweet.
- Specificity kills boredom.
- Real anecdotes provide hooks.
- Complex ideas require space to breathe.
If you’re writing something and you realize "that’s a lot of words," ask yourself: "Am I explaining something complex, or am I just being loud?" There’s a massive difference between a steak and a pile of sawdust, even if they weigh the same on the scale.
How to Stop Being "That Person" in Emails and Slack
We’ve all got that one coworker. The one who sends a "quick update" that requires three scrolls of the mouse to finish. Don't be that person.
Honestly, the best way to avoid the "that’s a lot of words" trap in a professional setting is to use the BLUF method. Bottom Line Up Front. It’s a military communication tactic. Put the most important information—the "ask" or the "result"—in the very first sentence.
"I need your approval on the budget by 4 PM so we can book the venue."
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Then, and only then, do you provide the context. If people want the details, they’ll keep reading. If they just need to know what to do, you’ve saved them ten minutes of their life.
It’s also about formatting. Big blocks of text are intimidating. Use whitespace. Let the page breathe. A two-sentence paragraph isn't a crime; it's a mercy for the reader's eyes.
The Psychology of the "Wall of Text"
There’s a reason why people react so negatively to seeing too much text at once. It’s called information overload. When the input exceeds our processing capacity, our decision-making quality drops. We get frustrated.
Social media platforms have mastered the art of "anti-word" communication. TikTok and Instagram Reels succeed because they condense complex emotional or educational beats into 15-second bursts. But even there, you see the "that's a lot of words" phenomenon in the captions. Have you noticed how the most successful creators use short, punchy captions? They know that if you have to click "more," you probably won't.
Practical Tips for Cutting the Fat
If you’re looking at a draft and it feels bloated, start by hunting for "zombie verbs." These are verbs turned into nouns. Instead of saying "We reached a conclusion," just say "We concluded." Instead of "The provision of help," just say "Helping."
Next, look for redundant pairs.
- "Basic fundamentals" (Fundamentals are basic).
- "Future plans" (Plans are for the future).
- "True facts" (Facts are true).
Each time you cut one of these, the "that’s a lot of words" feeling diminishes, and the power of your message grows. It’s like carving a statue. You have to remove the stone that isn't the statue.
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Actionable Steps for Better Communication
If you want to ensure your message is actually received and not just skimmed, follow these rules:
1. The "So What?" Test
Read every paragraph you’ve written. If you can’t answer "So what?" in three seconds, delete it. If it doesn't move the story forward or provide a necessary fact, it's just noise.
2. Varied Pacing
Music isn't just one note held for ten minutes. It’s a mix of fast beats and slow melodies. Your writing should be the same. Use a short sentence to make a point. Then use a longer one to explain the "why." This keeps the reader's brain engaged.
3. Kill the Jargon
Jargon is the ultimate "that's a lot of words" culprit. It’s usually used to hide a lack of understanding or to sound "corporate." If you can’t explain it to a ten-year-old, you don’t understand it well enough yet. Use plain language. "Utilize" is just a fancy way of saying "use." Use "use."
4. Visual Breaks
Use headers that actually describe the section. Don't be "clever" with headers; be clear. If a reader can get the gist of your entire article just by reading the H2s, you’ve succeeded.
5. Respect the Medium
A text message should not be a letter. An email should not be a book. A blog post should be as long as it needs to be to solve the user's problem—and not a single word longer.
The next time you’re about to hit send or publish, take one last look. If your first thought is "that’s a lot of words," it probably is. Cut 10%. I promise you won't miss it, and your readers will actually thank you for it.