You know that person. The one who doesn't just "talk" to you—they articulate their perspectives via verbal paradigms. It’s exhausting. We've all been trapped in a conversation or a Slack thread where someone is using big words that mean absolutely nothing more than a simple three-letter word could have conveyed.
Language is a tool for connection. When you start throwing around "sesquipedalian" (which ironically means someone who uses long words), you aren't necessarily showing off your IQ. Often, you’re just creating a barrier. People think using complex vocabulary makes them sound more authoritative, but research suggests the exact opposite might be true.
Let’s be real.
The Cognitive Cost of Being Fancy
There is a fascinating study by Daniel Oppenheimer titled "Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly." It’s a mouthful. The irony of that title is intentional. Oppenheimer found that when people use overly complex language to describe simple concepts, readers actually perceive them as less intelligent. Why? Because the brain has to work harder to decode the message. We call this cognitive load. If I have to pause to translate "remonstrate" into "complain," I’m no longer listening to your point. I’m just annoyed at your word choice.
Big words aren't inherently bad. They have their place in technical manuals or legal contracts where precision is the absolute law. But in daily life? In your emails? In your marketing copy? They’re usually just clutter. Honestly, the most brilliant people I’ve ever met—the kind of people who actually have PhDs in physics or philosophy—tend to speak like normal humans. They don't need the crutch of a thesaurus to feel important.
Why We Do It Anyway
Insecurity. That’s the big one. We use big words that mean simple things because we want to belong to a certain "in-crowd." We want to sound like we’ve read the books on the shelf. In the corporate world, this manifests as "corporate speak."
Have you ever noticed how "synergy" sounds much more expensive than "working together"? Or how "leveraging core competencies" sounds more professional than "using what we're good at"? It’s a performance. We are performing "Intelligence" with a capital I. But performance isn't communication. If your goal is to be understood, you should aim for the shortest path between your brain and theirs.
A Field Guide to Pretentious Substitutions
Let's look at some of the worst offenders. These are the big words that mean things you already know, but they’ve been dressed up in a tuxedo for no reason.
- Utilization vs. Use: This is the king of unnecessary syllables. There is almost no scenario where "utilize" is better than "use." Using "utilize" doesn't make you sound like a CEO; it makes you sound like someone trying to hit a word count on a high school essay.
- Facilitate vs. Help: "I will facilitate the meeting." Cool. Or you could just lead it or help people talk.
- Subsequent to vs. After: Five syllables versus two. "After" is a beautiful, punchy word. Use it.
- Methodology vs. Method: A methodology is a system of methods. It’s a study of how we do things. Most of the time, people just mean "the way we did it." That’s a method.
The list goes on. "Paradigm," "extrapolate," "bifurcate." These aren't just words; they’re roadblocks.
The Precision Trap
Now, someone always argues that big words are "more precise." Sometimes that’s true. "Ephemeral" carries a poetic weight that "short-lived" doesn't quite capture. It implies a certain fleeting beauty. If you’re writing a novel or a heartfelt letter, go for it. Precision is a valid excuse for complexity.
But precision is rarely the motivation in a business presentation. Usually, the motivation is obfuscation. People use big words that mean nothing specific to hide the fact that they don't have a plan. If a project is "undergoing a comprehensive strategic realignment," it usually means it’s a mess and they’re trying to fix it. Simple words are honest. Big words can be a mask.
The Hemingway Effect
Ernest Hemingway was famously criticized by William Faulkner for his limited vocabulary. Faulkner said Hemingway had "no courage" and had never been known to use a word that might send a reader to a dictionary. Hemingway’s response was legendary. He basically said: "Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"
👉 See also: Why Moon Rise Tonight Times Keep Changing and How to Catch the Best View
He was right.
The most powerful sentences in the English language are often the shortest. "Jesus wept." "Call me Ishmael." "To be or not to be." These aren't complex strings of Latinate vocabulary. They are simple, Anglo-Saxon words that hit like a hammer. If you want to move someone, you don't need a thesaurus. You need clarity.
How to Edit Your Own Ego
It’s hard to stop. Once you get used to writing "per my previous email," it feels natural. But you have to kill your darlings.
When you finish a draft, go through and look for "that." Look for "very." Look for any word that ends in "-ize." Ask yourself: "If I said this to a friend at a bar, would I sound like a jerk?" If the answer is yes, change it.
- Avoid the "smart" trap. Don't use a word just because you recently learned it.
- Read it out loud. If you run out of breath before the end of the sentence, it's too long.
- Think about your audience. Are you writing for an academic journal or a human being with a five-minute break?
Practical Steps for Clearer Communication
If you want to stop using big words that mean simple things and start actually being heard, you need a strategy. This isn't about "dumbing down" your content. It’s about "smarting up" your delivery.
🔗 Read more: BSFS Meaning: What it Actually Stands For on Social Media
- The "So What?" Filter: Before you write a long sentence, ask yourself what the core point is. If the point is "we are late," don't write "our timeline has experienced significant slippage due to unforeseen logistical constraints." Just say you're behind schedule and explain why.
- Verb Power: Use active verbs. Instead of saying "The implementation of the plan was conducted by the team," say "The team ran the plan." It’s faster. It’s stronger.
- The Dictionary Test: If you use a word like "reify" or "turgid," and you can't define it without using another big word, delete it.
- Shorter is Better: If you have two words that mean the same thing, pick the one with fewer syllables. Every single time.
The Power of the Plain English Campaign
In the UK, there’s actually an organization called the Plain English Campaign. They’ve been around since 1979, fighting against "gobbledygook, jargon, and misleading public information." They give out "Golden Bull" awards for the worst examples of written English. They’ve forced banks, government agencies, and lawyers to stop using big words that mean nothing to the average person.
Why? Because clear language is a civil right. If you can’t understand your mortgage contract or your medical results because of the "erudite vernacular," that’s a problem. It’s a form of gatekeeping.
Final Actionable Insights
If you’re ready to clean up your vocabulary and actually connect with people, start here:
- Audit your most recent email. Highlight every word with more than three syllables. See if you can replace half of them with something punchier.
- Use Hemingway App. It’s a free web tool that highlights "adverbs," "passive voice," and "complex phrases." It’s a great reality check for when you're feeling a bit too academic.
- Focus on the verb. Most people bury their meaning in nouns. If you find yourself using "the collection of" or "the utilization of," turn those back into verbs: "collect" and "use."
- Embrace the short sentence. It creates rhythm. It gives the reader a chance to breathe. It makes your big points stand out more because they aren't buried in a pile of adjectives.
Stop trying to sound smart. Start trying to be clear. The smartest person in the room is the one who can explain the most complex idea in the simplest language. That’s real mastery.
📖 Related: Women's Athletic Tank Tops: Why You’re Probably Wearing the Wrong One
Everything else is just noise.