There is no doubt. Short words have a power that long words do not. Phrases with short words stick in our heads. We repeat them back – they touch us because we know what they mean. It’s not just the stuff of the big speech – always best spoken simply: “New Deal”; “Peace in our Time”; “Don’t ask, Don’t tell”; and “Yes, we can.” But also of the best ads too: – “Just do it”; “The King of Beers”; and “It’s the Real Thing.”
Too many of us hide behind long words. It gives us short-term power over others – and we assume that others admire us for “knowing” more than they do. They don’t. How can they, if they don’t know what we’re trying to say?
My plea to you, when you write or speak today, is to drop all long words for short ones, the sort used by most people. See if you can get through the day doing this. You may not be able to, but you will learn a lot if you try. Look into the eyes of those you try to reach and you will know straight away that you need never use a long word again, when a short one will do.
(PS Every word in this article has only 1 or 2 syllables. Except that last one…:)))
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