Generally, people tend to use big words and jargon to try to create either an impression or some sort of influence on their listener or reader. Such individuals hold this false belief that using big words makes them sound smart or more knowledgeable.
However, research shows that that is not the case. Using big words works against you.
‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.’
Albert Einstein
Research from Princeton University shows that readers aren't impressed - they think you're trying to hide something, and they judge you as less intelligent.
This scientific research study is found in the research paper titled, 'Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity: Problems with using long words needlessly.'
Using big words usually leads to two negative results:
1. It leads to negative perceptions
People tend to use big words to sound smart. However, studies show that audience members tend to have negative impressions of speakers who use too many big words. When we are reading or listening to something and it contains big unnecessary words, we start to form negative perceptions. We might see the information or the speaker as untruthful, lacking confidence, or even unlikable.
This makes the speaker fail to achieve what they have set to achieve, which is to sound smart.
But this might have its roots in our upbringing and the environments we are from. Especially for us whom English isn't our first language.
Thinking back at school, the learner who spoke English well and used big words, would be praised by teachers, and be presented as the most intelligent. Sometimes, they would be taken to places to represent the entire school, simply because they can use big words.
And unfortunately, in our adult and professional lives, as we experience 'real life', this is not the case. The belief that using big words makes you look smart gets dismally overturned. As you are completely perceived in the direct opposite of what might have worked for you as a child in school.
All those big words lead to negative perceptions of you and the information you provide.
2. It slows down processing
One of the most frustrating things when you are either listening to someone or reading something is the struggle to make sense of what the speaker or writer is saying. Have you ever had to read something and then read it again, and maybe even a third time to understand it?
Big unnecessary words are the main cause of this frustration. This takes time for us to process the information we receive and it eventually feels like a waste of time. Imagine, in every paragraph, you have to stop to look up the meaning of a bombastic word you just read. This drains our energy to process all these big words.
Deliberately using big words makes it hard for your audience to process the information and drains their energy. Beyond that, you might be damaging your own credibility and creating negative impressions of yourself.
The big takeaway from this is that the best credible and trusted information is delivered in simple concise words that are straightforward and make sense the first time the listener or reader comes into contact with them.
The notion that using big words makes you seem more intelligent, may only work for kids in school among their classmates and teachers. But in real adult life, it makes you unlikable and your information is seen as uncredible.
Therefore, refrain from using big words when you can use clear simple words if you want your message or info to be understood and interesting.
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