Using Big Words Doesn’t Always Make You Sound Smarter

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Using Big Words Doesn’t Always Make You Sound Smarter

You might think that using big, fancy words will make you sound smart, but it can actually have the complete opposite effect.

It’s good to emphasize what you know when you’re trying to sound intelligent, but the way you talk about it matters. A study led by Daniel M. Oppenheimer at Princeton University, and published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology suggests that using long, academic-sounding words instead of simple, more easily-understood words makes people think you’re less intelligent. The study’s participants found that the more they could actually understand what was being communicated, the more intelligent they considered the message.

Essentially, the more complicated language you try to use, the higher the chance it will backfire on you. You might come off sounding like a phony, or like someone who isn’t intelligent enough to understand their audience. Keep things simple and focus on getting your message across, not trying to sound impressive.

Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly | the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology via Business Insider

Source: Lifehacker

[ET's Gay Lover]

This is of course correct. However in esoteric communication media, such as field-specific journals, the use of jargon is often expected in order to convey complex concepts in the fewest possible words. As this medium is a public domain, I shall attempt to reign in my use of unnecessary jargon.

[ET's Gay Lover]

Upon reflection, I suppose that I try to sound more intelligent as I typically find myself surrounded by more intelligent people. The following video may be of some interest to the more inquisitive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh-agoAnKe8

[Matisfaction]

[ET's Gay Lover]

Black Adder is a source of much humour from the sparse references I have encountered, however I have had little cause for interest in the common media. Dr Johnson in the above-posted clip, clearly had been written to be a highly dramatized example of misuse of esoteric parlance. When promoting a concept, I typically aspire to present my thoughts clearly in such a manner as to avoid ambiguity as is all-too-often encountered in simplistic vernaculus. I hope I do not appear so as to be likened to Dr Johnson. Is that your intent, Matisfaction?

[Matisfaction]

[ET's Gay Lover]

I stand aghast at the ultimate proof of that which I have long suspected: the common media is an atrocity to the intellect, and likely results in the mindless gibberings of those who wouldn't realize the difference between the quantum foam and shower gel.

[Matisfaction]

[ET's Gay Lover]

I must say, the gentleman in the above set of advertisements does appear to be ill-at ease with the opposite gender.

[ET's Gay Lover]