By Lee Fitzsimmons

Describing himself as a “rogue intellectual,” Lee is a talented writer and musician. In this guest post he discusses the importance of using precise terminology when presenting complex ideas in order to create a heightened reading experience. You can contact Lee at leefitzsimmons.com.

There are many individuals who advocate the use of brevity in writing. While there are certain occasions when such techniques are appropriate, there are many occasions when more complex lexical tools are required (other than the obfuscatory jargon found in political and legal documents). In basic essays and articles that possess the goal of trying to explain something as accurately as possible, it is almost always necessary to use the most precise terminology available. The reason for this is because advanced conceptualizations of more complex ideas and their many related speculations often require advanced terminology that does not allow for any ambiguity within a statement. Also, it is almost always necessary to define key terminology in a very specific manner, so that these conceptualizations are allowed to develop properly. Lexical precision is also required for aesthetic and psychological purposes as well.

First, the correct formulations of the basic ideas expressed in an article or essay are often obscured when simple words are used in attempts to explain more advanced concepts. The reason for this phenomenon is that simple terms can often have a wide array of possible meanings. When a basic statement with few words is employed, there are often a very large number of possible interpretations. Thus, more specificity is required, so that the most precise and accurate renderings of the expressions being given by the author can be perceived in a manner that allows for the writer’s basic ideas to be cognized in the most effective ways possible.

It is also necessary to remember that basic key terms used in any type of written presentation can often be defined in a multitude of ways. This accurate defining of terminology is one of the most important reasons as to why precise lexical techniques must be used in any type of serious written presentation that wishes to convey important knowledge to humanity. Whenever the correct definitions of the fundamental words used in any written presentation are not clearly asserted, then the evil spectre of ambiguity raises its villainous head, and the chaos of sophistic manipulation is given an opportunity to manifest itself. Thus, in order to overcome the evil machinations of diabolical sophists and cunning manipulators, it is more than necessary to explain even the most basic of concepts with words that are precisely defined in ways that allow for as few interpretations as possible to be perceived.

It should also be realized that in order to invoke more poetic flavors with one’s words, a large assortment of terms should be present on one’s artistic palette, so that a more pure and aesthetic rendering of one’s statement may be presented. Most people are far more receptive to something that is written in a well-fashioned and colorful way. In order to heighten the appeal of one’s written presentation, a wide array to lexical colors should be available to the author, so that there are more choices to use when it becomes necessary to flavor one’s prose with beautiful words. Such appeal has a direct effect on the perception of a written presentation.

This effect on the perception of a set of written words by the employment of more interesting terminology is also psychological in nature. Thus, in order to place the reader in the most receptive state possible that allows for the correct cognition and understanding of a writer’s assertion, the use of the most beautiful and appropriate terms becomes far more important. Not only is ambiguity to be avoided, so is boredom. Thus, in order to place the reader in a heightened state of awareness that will properly allow for the maximum retention of the concepts asserted by writer, the most accurate and aesthetically pleasant words should be used.

Thus, advanced lexical tools are needed for both business and pleasure, so that beauty and logic may reign supreme within the words of the written prose presented by the writer. However, simplicity is sometimes the best alternative. Whenever extremely fundamental ideas that are obviously apparent are expressed by an author, it is often best to present these commonly known notions in a brief and accurate manner, so that the prose being presented has a greater spectrum of artistic colors being presented to the reader. Using short and simple sentences can bring a sense of relief from the more complex notions being presented, so that more the more eloquent lexical tools are complimented with the sheer delight of a profound statement of a few words that boldly asserts itself and provides a much needed bastion of simple fortitude.

Thus, the writer should always have a large number of tricks in the toolkit so that any written presentation can be beautifully presented and accurately perceived. By doing so, the entire exchange of words and ideas between writer and reader is enhanced to a far greater degree. By doing so, the entire exchange of words and ideas between the reader and writer is elevated to a much higher level of intellectual reasoning. By doing so, the entire exchange of words and ideas between the writer and reader becomes a process that elevates both the soul and psyche of everyone involved in this magical transference of knowledge.

Related articles

how to tell if you are writing clearly (orgtheory.wordpress.com)
The Trouble With Intentions (opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com)
The Phonological Status of Language Systems (socyberty.com)


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