NationStates Jolt Archive

Does it bother you when other posters use big words to make their points?

I noticed a side discussion about this in a different thread earlier today, and thought it was interesting. One poster had used some large words (accurately, as it happens) and the other was complaining that the first had done so just to appear more erudite (well, he said smarter, but I LIKE big words, myself). Shortly thereafter the second poster misused a big word and was called on it.

So I wondered, what is your take on that? Do you like the challenge of a post put forth by a lexophile or would you prefer it if everyone dumbed it down to the lowest common denominator? Are you put off by someone who seems smarter than you, or does it make you want to find a way to sound more educated yourself? Do you go look up those words you don't know or just dismiss posts you don't understand? Also, if a post is poorly written or spelled, do you automatically discount it's worth, or do you give the poster the benefit of the doubt?

No poll on this one, if you want to respond, you are going to have to use words. :p

Long words in context are fine. Long words in an attempt to look smart is pretentious.

How do you tell the difference?

Long words in context are fine. Long words in an attempt to look smart is pretentious.

Indeed.

Long words in context are fine. Long words in an attempt to look smart is pretentious.

oooOOOOoohhhh. La-di-da.

How do you tell the difference?

The amount of knowledge and wisdom they have gained from NSG?

Indeed.

it depends if the long words actually help deliver the message of the argument too, if its just long words for the sake of using long words then its pretentious.

How do you tell the difference?

It's usually quite clear. If someone is using an obscure term for no apparent reason when there is a far more common and accepted one, then it's pretty obvious.

Similarly, there are people who will never use one word if ten will do; that's the kind of person who thinks that the more you write, the smarter you are. It's usually the reverse; the greatest minds can say what they want concisely and clearly.

I just use the best word, long or short, to say what I want to say.

oooOOOOoohhhh. La-di-da.

*Resists urge to use up yours smiley for first time ever...*

:p

Long words in context are fine. Long words in an attempt to look smart is pretentious.

I'd agree. But I think that's actually much rarer than people claiming it when what they actually mean is "People are disagreeing with me. Using words and everything. And some of them read books. No fair".

I see nothing wrong with a well-worded post. I certainly wouldn't want to have to "dumb down" what I post, and I wouldn't do it anyway. I will admit that a badly-spelled post puts me off, though I do try to see if the person posting it is a native speaker (writer) of English, and give the benefit of the dooubt to those who aren't (I would hope to receive similar treatment if I were posting in French, assuming I could actually frame a coherent thought in that language). What I don't like are people who seem to have no time for the SHIFT key (even "I" is left uncapitalized), or those who use the abomination of "text message talk" (how r u?).

Of course I use words to confuse lower specimens of humans! It's great fun! I have at least TWICE the vocabulary of ANYONE at my school, even the I.B. kids. It's great fun confusing them all. It's also great fun to use proper American on internet games filled with kids going "lol! r u lik, a n00b or sum thin?" it sends them into such rages... Ahh... So much fun.

And yes, if I encounter a word I don't know, I look it up. Mainly for the sake of being able to use it later. But also for the plain sake of becoming that much smarter. And yes, I do use big words just to seem smarter. But it's self-esteem more than anything.

geez, knowing that i can use a big word now and then is one of the reasons i post here. i assume that everyone reading it understands the word and if not that they are smart enough to look it up.

Long words in context are fine. Long words in an attempt to look smart is pretentious.

Indubitably.

Sometimes the word you need to use to express your point is a big word. Sometimes it might even be an abscure word.

The problem is, finding a word or phrase with a precisely similar meaning is often impossible, making the big words occasionally necessary.

It's also great fun to use proper American
Er....

Er....

i think he mean engish... FTW?

proper english is hard and that is something i don't believe in.

plebe english and l00t3r sp33k r good.

I think that "big" words are necessary. They capture the meaning better.

Which gives you a clearer picture: red or saffron?
ugly or loathsome?
Christian or Infralapsarian?

The "larger" the word becomes, the more accurate the picture becomes. And it takes fewer words to speak. Of course, if you have to explain what the word means, it may not be worth it.

And for those of you wondering, infralapsarians are a division within Calvinism, opposed to supralapsarians.

I think that "big" words are necessary. They capture the meaning better.

Which gives you a clearer picture: red or saffron?
ugly or loathsome?
Christian or Infralapsarian?

The "larger" the word becomes, the more accurate the picture becomes. And it takes fewer words to speak. Of course, if you have to explain what the word means, it may not be worth it.

And for those of you wondering, infralapsarians are a division within Calvinism, opposed to supralapsarians.

teh word choice should be teh poster's personal option.

And now, Teh Acronym:

Voting
Is (on an)
October
Day

VOID!

OK... to continue the question, how about cursing. Does it make you less likely to take a post seriously if it is full of vulgarity? Or do you just assume the poster is passionate about what he is saying?

OK... to continue the question, how about cursing. Does it make you less likely to take a post seriously if it is full of vulgarity? Or do you just assume the poster is passionate about what he is saying?

I take the poster less seriously. I just think that they can't think of an argument and are either too lazy or too dumb to think up a creative insult.

i think he mean engish... FTW?

proper english is hard and that is something i don't believe in.

plebe english and l00t3r sp33k r good.


Don't believe in? Can you please clarify what you mean by that?

There is no objective nomothetic way to determine the validity or factor of obscurity of various words: they are all ultimately derived from several phonemes, so who is to decide which words are "too complex" (I have no clue if I used those two words correctly -- I just Googled 'big words' :))?

How do you tell the difference?
It takes practice, but usually, if a person is just trying to look smart, he or she will mess up and use a synonym that doesn't quite fit. I swear, the bane of my existence as an English instructor is the Thesaurus tool on MS Word.

As for cursing (rather than quote your other question) I think it's pretty obvious how I feel about it. :D

Er....

Proper "English" is the language people in England speak.

Proper "American" is the language people in America speak.

There is a difference.

Proper "English" is the language people in England speak.

Proper "American" is the language people in America speak.

There is a difference.
"American" isn't a language.

"American" isn't a language.

American English is.

There is no objective nomothetic way to determine the validity or factor of obscurity of various words: they are all ultimately derived from several phonemes, so who is to decide which words are "too complex" (I have no clue if I used those two words correctly -- I just Googled 'big words' :))?

Well, objective and nomothetic appear to have antithetical leanings, but if there WERE a way to come up with a universal abstract regarding language that was also based on observable phenomena and free of personal and emotional bias, we might have something. As to the validity of any particular word, I believe a refering to a dictionary is the most accurate way to adjudicate the cogency and actual meaning of a word, and the obscurity factor is highly individual based on personal experience (or, perhaps, lack thereof). All words are composed of phonemes, which are simply small sounds strung together to make words, but a phonetically complex and multi-syllabic word is merely difficult to SAY, and in meaning may be almost simplistic, so perhaps complexity is in the ear of the beholder?

OK... I'll stop now. :D

American English is.
I think it's more of a dialect than a language. English being the language, but with American English and Commonwealth English being dialects.

It takes practice, but usually, if a person is just trying to look smart, he or she will mess up and use a synonym that doesn't quite fit. I swear, the bane of my existence as an English instructor is the Thesaurus tool on MS Word.

As for cursing (rather than quote your other question) I think it's pretty obvious how I feel about it. :D

You f****** hate it? :p

But I know what you mean about the misuse of synonyms. I have tried to explain that like and equals are NOT the same, and synonyms that are LIKE each other, don't necessarily EQUAL each other, but that can be a long uphill battle.

American English is.

Exactly.

You f****** hate it? :p

But I know what you mean about the misuse of synonyms. I have tried to explain that like and equals are NOT the same, and synonyms that are LIKE each other, don't necessarily EQUAL each other, but that can be a long uphill battle.

The one that's been getting me lately is less versus fewer, mainly because I hear so many people make the mistake, even people who ostensibly have command of the language. And then of course there's the possessive apostrophe, which gets messed up on advertisements and business signs all the damn time.

The one that's been getting me lately is less versus fewer, mainly because I hear so many people make the mistake, even people who ostensibly have command of the language. And then of course there's the possessive apostrophe, which gets messed up on advertisements and business signs all the damn time.

I occasionally screw the apostrophe up, then go back and feel silly about it. It is the it's its thing that gets me. But for some reason, I am fine with plural possessive... probably because I belong to Actors' Equity Association, and have had to type that somewhat frequently of late.

Long words in context are fine. Long words in an attempt to look smart is pretentious.

I agree. And not being a native English speaker, I assume people should know the words I know, or look them up.

edit: has somebody read the sentence below *here*? Forget what I said. Dictionaries are my friend.

I actually don't use "big words" that often, that particular thread aside. Not because it makes me sound less pretentious - I think I sound pretentious anyway - but because it makes for more difficult reading.

On more or less similar grounds, I try to remain concise.

People who use "big words" correctly don't bother me, as long as it isn't excessive to the point of unreadability.

I actually don't use "big words" that often, that particular thread aside. Not because it makes me sound less pretentious - I think I sound pretentious anyway - but because it makes for more difficult reading.

On more or less similar grounds, I try to remain concise.

People who use "big words" correctly don't bother me, as long as it isn't excessive to the point of unreadability.

Just so you know, I absolutely was not picking at you for that (I thought you were correct, actually) which is why I didn't name names or link to it. :)

And your point is valid, even if the big words are correct, occasionally they can hinder communication.

One should always endeavor to eschew obfuscation.

Just so you know, I absolutely was not picking at you for that (I thought you were correct, actually) which is why I didn't name names or link to it. :)

I knew you weren't. Don't worry about it.

And your point is valid, even if the big words are correct, occasionally they can hinder communication.

So can simplicity, though; a balance has to be struck.

It also depends on your audience; when arguing with someone who uses big words, I tend to use big words as well, and when arguing with someone who does not, I tend not to.

And now, Teh Acronym:

Voting
Is (on an)
October
Day

VOID!

'VIOD'? Have I missed some pop culture reference here?

Proper "English" is the language people in England speak.

Proper "American" is the language people in America speak.

There is a difference.

But there are like a couple of dozen languages spoken in America. Even if by America you mean the United States.

I don't usually use big words on the internet. In real life I do, but because that's just how I am, not because I'm trying to prove I'm intelligent.

However, I've noted that people that I talk to tend to feel intimidated when I talk to them and use big words. People always tell me "just use the normal word." :rolleyes:

I occasionally like to experiment using new words and sentence constructs.. Language is to be played with, after all.

Does it bother you when other posters use big words to make their points?
Indubitably. I concur with said postulation.

Do you like the challenge of a post put forth by a lexophile

Dammit, I knew somebody would figure out I was sexually attracted to laws!
Ooh, Arizona Traffic Code Section 3 Chapter 1 Paragraph 6 On the penalties for runing red lights, I WANT YOU TO HAVE MY CHILD!
>_>
<_<

Long words don't bother me a huge amount although I personally prefer to use simpler language due to my complete inability to spell.

My real bugbear is the use of acronyms because I use these forums as much to learn about things I have no real knowledge of as much as to post about hings that I do and acronyms make this a little more difficult than it needs to be.

My real bugbear is the use of acronyms because I use these forums as much to learn about things I have no real knowledge of as much as to post about hings that I do and acronyms make this a little more difficult than it needs to be.
This site (http://www.acronymfinder.com/) should help.

This site (http://www.acronymfinder.com/) should help.

Oh I can find them, it just seems a little pointless when it takes about a second and a half longer to type out the whole name of something.

Oh I can find them, it just seems a little pointless when it takes about a second and a half longer to type out the whole name of something.
Meh, you can say the same about a whole number of time-saving devices. By definition, if they save time, they ain’t pointless. QED.

Sorry, quod erat demonstrandum.

Meh, you can say the same about a whole number of time-saving devices. By definition, if they save time, they ain’t pointless. QED.

Sorry, quod erat demonstrandum.

But they become pointless when trying to get a point across during a debate and not everyone can understand what is being said.

But they become pointless when trying to get a point across during a debate and not everyone can understand what is being said.
With every community, NSG and the denizens of the internet included, shorthand and acronyms become part of speech/text; especially with the many technical terms of speech/text around on the net. It may be initially inconvenient, but I don’t think it’s the responsibility of places like NSG to dumb down language.

Moreover, terms like lol make more sense in the form of an acronym. It wouldn't be technically correct to write that we laugh out loud at every comment that lol is applied to, merely that lol indicates we are amused at the comment.

With every community, NSG and the denizens of the internet included, shorthand and acronyms become part of speech/text; especially with the many technical terms of speech/text around on the net. It may be initially inconvenient, but I don’t think it’s the responsibility of places like NSG to dumb down language.

Moreover, terms like lol make more sense in the form of an acronym. It wouldn't be technically correct to write that we laugh out loud at every comment that lol is applied to, merely that lol indicates we are amused at the comment.

I didn't mean them. Names of political organisations and the suchlike.

I didn't mean them. Names of political organisations and the suchlike.

Like "NAMBLA"? :p

Like "NAMBLA"? :p

Thats NAMbLA, if you don't have the b in lower case then it's just not as effective.

It's usually quite clear. If someone is using an obscure term for no apparent reason when there is a far more common and accepted one, then it's pretty obvious.

Actually some people use what might be to most people 'obscure terms' for the non-apparent reason that that's just how they communicate.