In Praise of Short Words

Thought for the day: Have you ever wondered why monosyllable is such a long word?

One way to get to the point when you write is to use short words—not all the time, mind you, but when you sense that your prose has grown dull and thick, weighed down with big words that just take up space and get in the way of what you want to say. In a pinch, short words can speed up a line and light up a thought--like this:

Small words can be crisp, brief, terse--go to the point, like a knife. They have a charm all their own. They dance, twist, turn, sing. Like sparks in the night, they light the way for the eyes of those who read. They are the grace notes of prose. You know what they say the way you know a day is bright and fair--at first sight. And you find, as you read, that you like the way they say it. Small words are gay. And they can catch large thoughts and hold them up for all to see, like rare stones in rings of gold, or joy in the eyes of a child. Some make you feel, as well as see: the cold deep dark of night, the hot salt sting of tears.
(from "Advice to Scientists--in Words of One Syllable," by Joseph Ecclesine, American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 1965)

Our goal, of course, should not be to fill up a page with short words or with long words. We should aim to find the best words when we write, a mix of the long and the short. But when caught in a tight spot, when your thoughts get lost in the web of words and you can’t seem to find your way out, try to clear your head and clean up your prose with a few short words. Trust me: it works.

More About Words:

• Choosing the Best Words: Denotations and Connotations
• 200 Words and Expressions That Tick You Off
• Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words