Using long, complex words doesn't make you look smart
By Tim Sandle
1 hour ago in Odd News
You might think that using long and complex words makes you look smart, but it doesn't, according to new research UCLA Anderson School of Management. Throwing in a complex word can actually make you appear less intelligent.
At first it may seem counter intuitive: using long, complicated words does not impress. A new study found that using long, complicated words makes you appear less intelligent than if you use simple language. So rather than finding a way to drop "antidisestablishmentarianism" into everyday conversation, the point made by George Orwell about the simplicity of writing being the most effective appears to be correct.
At least this is the outcome of research led by Professor Daniel M. Oppenheimer. Professor Oppenheimer has been looking at the impact of language on human behavior. The research began with taking essay assignments from online college submissions. Using an algorithm, shorter words were switched with longer words that had a similar meaning.
Reviewers were then asked to to evaluate the essays. In most cases the reviewers assessed the authors that used the longer words as less capable and less confident; whereas those who used shorter words were considered to be more capable and intelligent.
Professor Oppenheimer carried out more research and this has been captured in his book Democracy Despite Itself. Here the psychologist notes that people are less willing to purchase stock with long names and are less likely to vote for politicians who are prone to espousing purple prose.
The reason for this Professor Oppenheimer told Fast Company, is: "To the extent that you use long words, you make it more disfluent to read your prose, people will judge you disfavorably."
Read more:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/odd+news/using-long-complex-words-doesn-t-make-you-look-smart/article/447457#ixzz3pUKdqrFP
