Simplicity- It really makes sense
I am an avid reader. I devour books, swallow them whole, ingest them as fast as I can. I love reading. I don’t have enough time to read the way I want to, but who does. I love writing and I pay attention to the style and manner of the authors I read be it blogging, newspaper or otherwise.
One thing that makes me crazy is the penchant that some people have for trying to construct their writing in the most complex manner they can produce. That is, they go searching for ways and means to make themselves sound like an incredibly intelligent academic.
Now I am happy to admit that I strive to be considered to be an excellent writer, someone who is an easy read and very insightful. I am not sure how often I hit the mark. I kind of figure that more often than not I miss it, but I make the effort because I enjoy it. And as I mentioned my ego wants to be stroked, but who doesn’t want to be stroked a little.
What makes me insane is reading the drek that is produced by people who haven’t got a good command of the language, but think that they can overcome that by using words that are not generally used in everyday communication.
This is a problem because it often obfuscates the point they were trying to make. Why confuse the reader. Secondly, I do believe that less is more. And yes I know that I could be more concise, paragraphs could be tighter etc. But I am aware of this so I do try and work on it.
If only some of these pseudo-academics would get a clue and understand that they are making life more difficult.
The other place that I always find problems is on business websites. The marketing people are so afraid of management that they create these convoluted mission statements and website crud when there is no need to do so.
If you sell widgets than just say so, you don’t need 800 words to try and creatively describe what you are doing. Don’t make the reader struggle to understand your product/service, just present in a simple, yet eloquent form and you’ll see good things happen.
Jack's Shack October 7, 2004 at 4:57 am
That is the one.
ricknight October 6, 2004 at 11:37 pm
Men in Tights?
Jack's Shack October 6, 2004 at 10:30 pm
Harrumph. Why do I feel like a Mel Brooks movie is about to break out around me.
ricknight October 6, 2004 at 10:20 pm
Perforce I am at wit’s loss to see any flaw in your erudite and masterful argument on the notion that simplicity of discourse is by far better than the circumlocution of the very point by adroit linguists, cunning or otherwise. Hussar!
Salutations to Your Good Health,
I Remain, Your Obedient,
R. H. Knight esq.