Should the writers not use difficult words? Perspicuity! How to maintain the balance while writing?

Being perspicuous! Maintaining the balance!

The writing style - Using difficult words

I was asked this question on Quora.com

So, should the writers always stick to lucid language?
Here is my solution:


The purpose of any language is to communicate ideas, and exchange thoughts successfully. If that does not happen then the existence of a language becomes futile. That does not mean, not to use words that are fancy, or new for the receivers. It all comes down to what you are writing.



Let us consider the following situations:

1. You are writing a note for a friend, typing a chat line for your friend, or typing a text message-

In this case if you flaunt your vocabulary, your friends might lose interest (unless someone like me was your friend!). While casually chatting with friends, making a quick plan, be simple and straight. Use lucid language. End it fast!



2. You are writing a book -


In this situation, you have a good scope of using terms that might be new for your readers. Not a lot, but surely the readers will always welcome a new word from time to time. That is why they read, don’t they?



3. You are writing a script (Drama/Movie):


In this case you can use some high profile words, but again not too many. Imagine the plight of the audience, who cannot react to things because they cannot decipher the message!



4. You are writing a news report/article:


This one requires a very fine balance. You shouldn’t be too simple, and at the same time, not so much a ‘vocabulary-teacher’, that people don’t bother to continue reading.


Therefore you have to strike a balance-

Too easy (normal), and the report loses its spice.
Too complex, and the report is too spicy to digest!



For the writers - (to conclude)
Of course, the writers must realize that in a bid to make things very simple to comprehend at times, there must not be any compromise on using the required, authentic terminology.


For instance: A dead body cannot and should not be anything other than a cadaver in the medical field.
Then the writer must not use ‘a dead body’ to make the readers understand. It is ‘a cadaver’. Simple!



A typical doubt: What if I use the words that I know, but the listener, or the reader doesn’t know about them?


NEVER be apprehensive about displaying your vocabulary just because you think the listener might not have heard about it! Just don’t be ostentatious.
It is as hilarious as you going to a restaurant and not ordering ‘a sandwich’ because you think the waiter might not have heard of it!
Well, as a writer, it is our duty to spread the knowledge, and we must do it albeit with subtlety.






The readers read due to the trust that they stand a good chance to enhance their understanding. They have a faith in the writer that there will be something new added to what they already knew. The writers must keep this trust intact.


Hope I was able to satiate your need.


Cheers!