Expert: Susan Rand - 8/29/2008

Question
I read in a book:
"Don't go searching for synonyms to replace the word "said." These simple variants will suffice in almost every case: shouted, called, replied,
asked, insisted. If more force is required, stick to common words like these: cried, screamed, howled, wailed.  Avoid, at all costs, melodramatic
substitutes of this nature: ejaculated, belched, conjectured, shrilled."

I sorta understand why someone would say this.  But what about using other large words in descriptions? I've noticed the stories I've written
using simpler language have had better reception then those where I try to use a lot of beautiful descriptions, would you recommend dumbing
down the language I use to appeal to a larger audience?  

Answer
Hello Aria:

I would certainly use simple words whenever possible (and it's always possible), but I wouldn't recommend you use the phrase "dumbing down" when speaking to your readers: they are more likely to resent that more than any big words you might use.

One problem with big words is that they are apt to sound "hifalutin'" to the average reader. If you think of yourself as smarter than the that person, it is sure to come out in your prose, and that's a big turnoff: it smacks of "The Writer, Writing." Another problem is that it's often easier to find another book than to go to a dictionary and look it up. Think Hemingway.

Once you've finished something, pass it around to a few of your contemporaries, or, if you are too shy to do that, take it to worddistillery.com and put it up there. Those folks will help you however they can, and they can, a lot. Tell them Catty sent you.

I hope this helps. If it does, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated.  I am proud of my high score over 1350+ questions.

And good luck with your writing!