Media Training Worldwide

Big Words=Big Sleep

A common problem among my clients, especially doctors and lawyers, is the propensity to use big words when little ones will do. As in the last sentence, I could have said the “tendency to use big words,” but I thought I would sound smarter and fancier to say “propensity.” That is the tendency you need to fight if you want to be a clear and memorable communicator.

Here are some other quick dos and don’ts.

Don’t say “journaling.”
Do say “writing down.”

Don’t say “parameter”
Do say “boundary.”

Don’t say “dialoging”
Do say, “Talking to each other.”

Don’t say “impacting.”
Do say “has an impact.”

The simpler your language, the more you will impress people with your ideas, your intelligence and your confidence.