Betty Bolté

No matter what you are trying to write, using clear, straight-forward language aimed at your specific audience will help your readers grasp your meaning. Often beginning writers and those who are trying too hard to impress will choose the longest and most obscure words. Yet studies have found that although those words are accurately used, comprehension is reduced as a result. So, when in doubt, use the simpler alternative. For example, "use" vs. "utilize."

For informal and creative writing it is encouraged that we use strong verbs rather than weak ones (receive vs. get), and write in active voice rather than passive voice. (Passive voice hides who is doing the action, while active voice emphasizes who is doing the action.) Novels and essays typically follow these guidelines, mainly because the aim is to connect directly with you, the reader.

Interestingly, one language analysis I did on grant proposals, while a graduate student at UAHuntsville, showed that there was a slight indication that the successful proposals (those that won funding) tended to use passive voice and weak verbs. If additional research could use a larger sample than the six I had at my disposal, it would be interesting to find out if there is a correlation because it was the accepted, even expected style of scientific writing.

Knowing your audience and their expectations must guide the word choices you make. Writing at a higher education level than your audience can understand effectively means that your words will have little meaning to them. Writing "beneath" your audience will suggest that you don't believe your audience is smart enough to understand more complex concepts and language. Choose carefully, and have fun writing!