Quote:
Originally Posted by finch1750
I tend to use the shortest words possible, but if I'm writing for something (academic, whitepaper, article, etc) I will use all forms of a saying to avoid sounding repetative.
One of my biggest pet peeve is using complex words in everyday conversation. It just bugs the hell out of me because I do feel people do it to show off.
Like this post
Why the hell can't you just say "Not me. My kids are millenials and I love em".
This isnt a novel so why be so formal about it?
|
Because wry, semi-ironic humor? That was my intention when I wrote the statement that, unintentionally, got under your skin.
Conventions of speech and writing, of course, change with time, context, and intent. When I was in HS, undergrad, and graduate school, I hated to write papers. I mean, HATED to write papers. I enjoyed the learning part, but once I had researched and learned the material, I viewed the onerous task of regurgitating it and assembling it into formal writing a complete waste of time. Fortunately, I had excellent professors (especially Dr. Hughes in grad school.. thanks, Doc!) and I've always had a voracious love of reading, so I learned to write and developed at least a borderline serviceable vocabulary in the process.
Now, I love to write, because I write when I feel like it, about things I care about, or just for the sheer pleasure of sharing stupid thoughts and musings. The purpose of vocabulary is to convey thoughts and impressions in an increasingly specific and accurate manner. There are plenty of things that can be expressed monosyllabically, and I'm not adverse to doing so. When a concept requires more than "Bro, chill rims!" then it's nice to have some backup phraseology.
I get what you're saying; nothing drives me crazier than pretentiousness. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE unintentional malapropisms. I had two borderline illiterate colleagues at one of my previous places of employment, and they were incredibly hillarious without realizing it. One one occasion, one of them (who viewed himself as a great sage and consummate educator, and he was far and I mean FAR from being either) introduced a guest artist that he revered (but was not equally respected by the rest of the faculty) who had offered to wave his honorarium as appearing "Persona non grata." I had to bite the inside of my lip until blood flowed to keep from laughing hysterically. I was not alone. He actually thanked the audience for a "tremendous ovulation" on another occasion.. and he wasn't kidding. Sooo... sometimes it's fun to let people be pretentious.
Yes, I could have written "I dig millenials; I raised three of'em." What I wrote better conveyed, or so I thought, the sort of wise-guy, playful attitude that I was feeling when I started the thread. Sorry if it came across differently. You mentioned your pet peeve is having to listen to folks using complex words in everyday conversation. I'll mention mine; it's using profanity in place of wit or vocabulary or just to fill up space. You wrote "why the hell" etc... when you could have conveyed exactly the same thought without "the hell." Why the hell did you feel the need to do that, as well?
Just havin' fun.
Best,
Barry