![]() ![]() On the other hand, a very short word like “mien” or “fey” could qualify as a ‘big word’ by virtue of being niche, while lengthier words such as “extraordinary” or “artificiality” have long gained popular usage and as such, probably wouldn’t fall within most people’s ‘big word’ basket.Īt this point, I must confess that I used to be a compulsive ‘big word user’, but being now older and a tad bit wiser, I don’t think using ‘big words’ is necessarily a sign of intelligence, or even of good writing. They are, however, definitely not mainstream, and they don’t often pertain to basic, pedestrian concepts.īut I must point out that what may seem like a ‘big word’ to me could be a perfectly normal word to another person.Ī rhetorician’s ‘antimetabole’ is a biologist’s ‘oxidoreductases’, so what constitutes ‘big’ (in the sense of difficult) can be relative. The way I see it, ‘big words’ are not necessarily polysyllabic (although they can often be of Latinate origin). To start, it’s probably a good idea to clarify what I mean by ‘big words’. Is it about what they say, or is it in how they say it?ĭoes substance or style count for more when we’re trying to impress?Īmong the various factors which affect the way we judge whether or not we find someone ‘intelligent’, I’ve noticed over the years that one behavioural trait always seems to appeal, and that’s the habit of using ‘big words’. In fact, what makes those who ‘sound smart’ sound, well, smart? ![]() We all want to sound smart, but how do you sound smart in writing? ![]()
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