how to make a essay sound smart

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15 Words and Phrases That Will Make Your Essay Sound Smarter

As composing any piece of writing, it’s essential to use appropriate vocabulary to make your essay stand out. Plain language sounds boring and unappealing, so it’s really important to know how to write effective papers. Not only do some words can help you persuade the reader, grab their attention, but they can also make you sound smarter.

“It’s always the language, words and phrases that you use in your writing that make your paper sound smart. Your paper can be well-researched and insightful, but it won’t stand out if it’s written in plain, boring language,” says Adam Simon, a college student and contributor to LegitWritingServices essay writing service review and education blog.

So enjoy our list of 15 words and phrases that will be of great help to make you paper sound smarter. 

In other words

When to Use: To paraphrase something in a simpler manner, thus making it easier to understand;

Exemplary Sentence: Writing an essay isn’t as black as it’s painted. In other words , once you learn the general tips, all is left is the practice.

That is to say

When to Use: To provide additional explanation to your previous point, or to add information to sound more accurate;

Exemplary Sentence: To start writing an essay one needs to do research. That is to say , one should search for materials, read them, examine and take notes.

To that end

When to Use: A synonymous phrase meaning ‘in order to’ or ‘so’;

Exemplary Sentence: He wanted to get straight A’s. To that end , he has been mastering his writing skills recently.

Supporting points with additional info

And, and, and. Using ‘and’ throughout your essay to add points won’t make your paper sound smarter. There are tons of awesome expressions and here are the top of them.

Furthermore

When to Use: To provide additional points, used at the beginning of a sentence (don’t forget a comma);

Exemplary Sentence: Furthermore , you should proofread and polish your paper before handing out the final variant.

When to Use: To add additional information, or offering some ideas that support your point of view in a similar manner;

Exemplary Sentence: Planning the writing process is vital to avoid writer’s block and craft a well-thought paper. Likewise , it is essential to write an outline, so that your essay is well-structured.

Another key thing to remember

When to Use: If you have already overused the word ‘also’, it’s high time to use its synonymous phrase ‘another key thing to remember’;

Exemplary Sentence: When writing an introduction, make sure you hook the reader’s attention and arouse their interest. Another key thing to remember is that crafting an introduction last thing is often more effective, as you have already had the perfect grasp of the chosen topic.

Not only...but also

When to Use: To present two ideas while the latter is often more surprising than the former one. Keep in mind the inversion moment as well;

Exemplary Sentence: Not only should you support your topic idea with several additional ones, but you should also provide great examples to underpin your point of view.

Coupled with

When to Use: To examine two or more arguments at a time;

Exemplary Sentence: He soon realized that choosing the topic he was passionate about, coupled with following all the academic rules and standards, was the key to getting top grades for the essay.

Expressing contrast

It’s essential to present contrasting opinions in argumentative essays, as well as in any essay if you want to develop your point of view and make it sound strong. That is why, here are some phrases to use.

When to Use: To provide a contrasting point of view;

Exemplary Sentence: Putting off your essay until the last minute isn’t the greatest idea. However , there are some students who claim that they do better when they’re pressed for time.

When to Use: To give a contrasting point; often used at the beginning of a sentence for better emphasis;

Exemplary Sentence: Purchasing essays online is regarded as cheating by the majority of people. Yet some believe there is nothing wrong in asking for a bit of assistance with their papers.

On the other hand

When to Use: Often used along with another contrasting point, for example, there are two different interpretations of the same idea ‘on the one hand’ and ‘on the other hand’;

Exemplary Sentence: Crafting an essay may seem like the worst and the most daunting task. On the other hand , once you’ve finished it, you feel satisfied and have this pleasant sense of accomplishment.

Highlighting important information

Emphasizing particular points in your essay also require some useful vocabulary.

When to Use: A synonymous expression to ‘particularly’ or ‘significantly’ to highlight peculiar information;

Exemplary Sentence: After reading this article, one can notably improve their vocabulary and make their writing sound smarter.

Importantly

When to Use: Another synonym to the word ‘significantly’, suggesting a special meaning to the point;

Exemplary Sentence: Polishing her paper with high-brow vocabulary affected her grades importantly.

Providing examples

You won’t surprise you professor ‘for example’, while the following expression will boost your writing skills.

To give an illustration

When to Use: To provide an example that will best illustrate your point of view

Exemplary Sentence: To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s have a look at the final effective phrase to use.

All things considered

When to Use: In other words, ‘taking everything into account’

Exemplary Sentence: All things considered , writing a good essay may be time- and energy-consuming; it may require scrutinizing tons of academic rules and standards; it can be pressuring and scary. However, following some useful tips can ease the whole composing process. To give an illustration of what I mean, try enriching your vocabulary with these 15 words and phrases and see how smarter your paper sounds now.

Summarizing

If an effective essay was a building, it would have a great foundation (an introduction and a conclusion). An introduction grabs the reader’s attention and guides straight to the main body, while a conclusion has the final say that is supposed to leave an aftertaste. For this reason, it’s essential to use persuasive vocabulary when summarizing your ideas.

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14 Grammar Tips to Make Your Writing Sound Smart

Zara Altair

Grammar Matters

Good grammar clarifies, 14 quick grammar tips, begin with good grammar.

Have you ever read a blog article or book with information you wanted to know, and it was almost impossible to read because the writer wanted to impress you with their intelligence?

That article or book was about them, not the subject matter. The author was trying to impress you with how smart they are. They used long words, technical terms without explanation, or worse, yet, words they made up so you could be an “insider.” They wrote long, complicated sentences. It wasn’t an informative read, and you probably didn’t finish it.

Don’t be that writer.

If you want to sound smart in your writing, be clear with your audience. Clarity is key to helping readers understand your text. Good grammar makes your sentences easy to understand. No matter how sophisticated your idea is, present it with clarity.

When you want to sound smart, using good grammar is important . Like common sense, grammar helps your reader understand without being baffled. When each sentence makes sense, it’s easy for your reader to understand your meaning.

From word choice to punctuation to citations, show your smarts by writing it right.

Tip 1: Alumnus

If you went to school but didn’t study Latin, referring to your fellow graduates can be tricky. You need to define whether they are masculine or feminine, and numbers count. One guy is an alumnus . One gal is an alumna . Many woman graduates are alumnae. And many men graduates are alumni . Following the Latin, men and women, all of them, are also alumni .

Tip 2: Affect and Effect

Affect is usually a verb that denotes making a change. Music affects my mood.

Effect is usually a noun naming the change. Newton’s third law of motion teaches that every action results in an equal and opposite effect.

But it’s not that simple. Affect also serves as a noun describing a person’s demeanor. Joe’s affect brightened after two cups of coffee.

And effect serves as a verb to make a change. My homeowner association voted to effect changes to parking access.

Tip 3: Compliment and Complement

The noun compliment denotes an act of giving praise. As a verb, compliment represents the act of giving praise: Jake complimented Agnes on her superb use of grammar.

As a noun or verb, complement implies completion:

• Her new bookcase complements her collection of reference books.
• The cider was the perfect complement to the Basque rabbit stew.

Tip 4: Example and Reference: e.g. or i.e.

These two abbreviations stand for Latin phrases. Use e.g. when referring to examples. The abbreviation represents the Latin exempli gratia , which means for example . Follow it with examples illustrating the previous statement: Various dog breeds are known for hip problems, especially large dogs, e.g. bulldogs, mastiffs, and retrievers.

When you want to restate a phrase, i.e. is Latin for that is , id est . Use it to restate or clarify: If your foundation has white marks, you may be in danger of structure settlement, i.e. a water-damaged foundation.

Tip 5: Further and Farther

These two are sometimes interchangeable, and sometimes your ear will guide your usage. There’s a grammatical adage to use farther for physical distance and further for figurative distance.

Modern speech prefers further as a verb. She took no prisoners with her cohorts to further her career. And it is the choice when used as an adverb to mean additionally. Further, I’d like to address the current invoicing procedures. As an adverb, further is also the modern choice. Since there were no further complaints, the detectives pursued their current criminal cases.

Tip 6: Quotation Marks or Italics for Titles

When you want to appear smarter, citing references is probably one step to verify your proposition. Italics and quotation marks set off your reference in a sentence, so your reader understands you are referring to a document. Use italics for longer works:

• Full-length plays
• Music albums
• Anything that has sections, like anthologies or collections
• Television and radio shows
• Ships (but the USS or HMS is not italicized)
• Spacecrafts
• Some scientific names
• Court cases
• Works of art
• Musical works like operas and musicals
• Computer and video games

Use quotation marks to set off:

• Short works like a poem or song
• Sections of longer works
• Episodes or scenes of a television show

And, sometimes you use neither:

• Constitutional documents
• Legal documents
• Traditional games (hopscotch, leapfrog)
• Commercial products (Cheerios)

Tip 7: Abbreviations

Don’t make your readers guess the meaning of an abbreviation. First, introduce what the abbreviation stands for before using it repeatedly in your text. You’ll help your reader understand the context. For example, Department of Aging or dead on arrival can both be abbreviated as DOA .

Your first use should include the entire phrase followed by the abbreviation or acronym: Home inspectors follow the Standard of Practice outlined by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

ProWritingAid’s Acronym Report will tell you if you haven’t introduced an acronym, if you’ve introduced it multiple times, or if you’ve punctuated it in several different ways.

Tip 8: Dashes and Hyphens

Use hyphens to join words together: broken-hearted , four-fifths , brother-in-law .

A dash, also called an em-dash or m-dash, separates parts of a sentence. Use the dash to set off a clause in a sentence when the parts of the sentence that precede and follow the clause make sense without the “extra” clause.

If I told him once, I told him a thousand times—he should have known by now—to put the dirty clothes in the laundry hamper.

And you can use the dash in place of a colon, especially for emphasis.

His living room was filled with evidence of his fitness craze—barbells, an exercise bike, and a rowing machine.

Tip 9: Use Antecedents

Antecedents are a word, phrase, clause, or sentence to which another word (especially a following relative pronoun) refers. When you use pronouns like it , this , and that or even he , she , or they , you need a reference noun before them. Otherwise, your reader may wonder which report or who she is. Clear it up before you use the pronoun.

According to the K-lytics report on Christmas mysteries, authors heavily advertise in order to make money on low-priced books. This report highlights the seasonal popularity of those mysteries.

Tip 10: Who and Whom

Who is doing what to whom? That question sums it up.

Who is the subject in the sentence, the one that takes action. Whom is the object of the sentence, the one who receives the action.

• It was Jenna who said it.
• She saw the man with whom she had flirted wildly last Friday night.

Tip 11: No One Is Ever That

As a corollary, do not use that to refer to a person. They are not a thing. Use who or whom . It’s not the first man that walked on the moon . It’s the first man who walked on the moon . Enough said.

Tip 12: The Colon

A colon is used two ways: to make lists and to tell what you mean. When you use a colon, do not capitalize the first word after the colon.

You can use a colon to add a list to a sentence.

Novelists add the five senses to bring a scene to life: taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing.

Colons can also be used to separate independent clauses when the second clause/sentence illustrates, explains, paraphrases, or expands on the first.

Jim realized his worst fear was coming true: his family would be homeless when they were evicted tomorrow.

Finally, you can use a colon to follow a salutation in a business or formal letter.

To the Tri-Valley Committee Chairman:

Tip 13: The Semicolon

Use a semicolon to separate two ideas (independent clauses) that are closely related.

Jane thought May was inviting her to a girls night in; it turned out, Mary was planning a surprise birthday party.

Also, use semicolons in a list when the list items contain commas.

Dave’s best high school buddies now lived far away: Tempe, Arizona; Union, New Jersey; Galveston, Texas; and Seattle, Washington.

Tip 14: Commas

Commas are the most frequently used, and misused, punctuation mark. When in doubt, look up your use. But here are four crucial guidelines to tame your comma use.

Use commas to separate items in a short list: Mary bought party favors, silly hats, and noisemakers for everyone at the surprise party.

Use a comma to separate two long independent clauses connected by a conjunction: Children labor over grammar rules in school, but they forget them later in life.

Use commas to set apart a parenthetical phrase (see em-dash in Tip 8 above): Your SEO practitioner, if he cares about your business, will tell you it may take months to gain organic traffic.

Use a comma after an informal introductory phrase: Dear John,

Good grammar helps your reader understand your concept. And, when you want to convey concepts, you also need to keep your syntax and vocabulary succinct. You’ll keep your reader from being confused.

In The Sense of Style , Steven Pinker said:

The key is to assume that your readers are as intelligent and sophisticated as you are, but that they happen not to know something you know.

Now, go share what you know.

Take your writing to the next level:

20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers

Whether you are writing a novel, essay, article, or email, good writing is an essential part of communicating your ideas., this guide contains the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers..

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Zara Altair writes traditional mysteries set in ancient Italy under Ostrogoths rule in The Argolicus Mysteries. She teaches mystery screenwriters and novelists at Write A Killer Mystery. She creates semantic web content for a select clientele.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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8 Tips to Make Your Writing Sound More Formal

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Here at ProofreadingPal , we get a lot of requests to “elevate tone,” “create a scholarly tone,” and “increase the formality,” and even “help this sound smart.” Truthfully, we cannot make you sound “smart.” There is no substitute for good ideas, but we can (and do) help you elevate your tone and make you sound like a bona fide professional-thinking person. Here are some handy tricks that you can use yourself.

• Avoid colloquial, informal words

I see a surprisingly high number of formal academic/business works that include words that are better left for the water cooler or over a spirited discussion of the merits of Michael Bay movies. Some words to avoid are “totally” (use “completely” instead), “basically” (just avoid it), “impact” (mostly as a verb. You shouldn’t say “that will impact me”), “wicked” (only use this when chatting in online games), and “cool” (this word can mean just about anything. Try to choose a more precise word). In general, avoid all slang words (e.g., rad, YOLO, heaps, guv). If in doubt, see if you could imagine your professor or boss using it. If not, avoid it.

• Proper use of “such as”

In formal writing, never use “like.” It’s probably the most commonly used feature of speech today for certain populations, but avoid it in formal writing. Compare:

Animals, like bears and tigers, are interesting. Animals, such as bears and tigers, are interesting.

See how much more formal the second sounds?

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• Avoid contractions

Contractions such as “can’t,” “didn’t,” and “I’m” are purely a product of verbal speech. We speak in contractions, but the convention is that, for formal, non-fiction writing, we shouldn’t write in them. When writing a formal business letter or an academic essay, forego contractions. It’s easy to use the Word FIND function to seek them out and destroy them.

• Avoid clichés

  Common Formality Mistakes

 This guide wouldn’t be complete without a look at some common practices that people use to make their writing more formal that don’t work. Here are a few practices we end up having to correct time and time again.

5. Don’t use passive voice . Passive voice is wordy, but being formal has nothing to do with wordiness.

• Don’t use thesaurus words you don’t fully understand. Big words don’t make your writing sound more formal, and this can backfire when you pick a word that doesn’t mean what you think it means. Take the sentence, “I saw a red dog walking down the street.” Easy, right? But using too much of a thesaurus might cause you to create: “I consulted a bloodshot mongrel marching down the highway,” which clearly is not what you intended.
• Don’t be wordy.

In all writing, wherever possible, brevity is the soul of wit. (Even I can’t avoid clichés, but at least that’s Shakespeare.) That means, always keep your prose as simple as possible . You may think, “The item that we are discussing could be the solution we are looking for to solve our problem,” sounds better because it’s long, but it’ll just annoy your reader. “That is the solution to our problem,” is better.

• Don’t mangle your sentences with third person.

Some professors still insist their students use third person to make their writing sound more formal, but (and always check with your professor first) style guides such as APA (and us) recommend you use first or second person to prevent passive voice and ambiguous language. Take: “The researcher applied a qualitative approach to the study” for example. Who is the researcher? You or someone else? This is ambiguous. It’s better to say, “I will take a qualitative approach to the study,” and this doesn’t sound any less formal.

Happy writing, and good luck.

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Copyblogger

51 Smart Tips for Brilliant Writing

Do you sound smarter when you use big words?

According to a study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology , the answer is no.

In fact, complex writing makes you sound small-minded. Just consider the title of the study: Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity: problems with using long words needlessly.

Wouldn’t it be better to title this study something like The effect of using big words when you don’t need them?

To sound smart, you must stop trying to sound smart. Brilliant writing is simple writing, a relevant idea delivered clearly and directly.

Here are 11 ways you can start writing today and sound brilliant:

1. Have something to say

This makes writing easier and faster. When you have nothing to say, you are forced to write sentences that sound meaningful but deliver nothing.

Read widely. Take notes. Choose your subjects wisely. Then share the information with readers, in your own writing voice .

2. Be specific

Consider two sentences:

I grow lots of flowers in my back yard. I grow 34 varieties of flowers in my back yard, including pink coneflowers, purple asters, yellow daylilies, Shasta daisies, and climbing clematis.

Which is more interesting in a writing introduction ? Which helps you see my back yard?

3. Choose simple words

Write use instead of utilize , near instead of close proximity , help instead of facilitate , for instead of in the amount of , start instead of commence .

Use longer words only if your meaning is so specific no other words will do.

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4. Write short sentences

You should keep sentences short for the same reason you keep paragraphs short: they’re easier to read and understand.

Each sentence should have one simple thought. More than that creates complexity and invites confusion.

5. Use the active voice

In English, readers prefer the SVO sentence sequence: Subject, Verb, Object. This is the active voice.

For example:

Passive sentences bore people.

When you reverse the active sequence, you have the OVS or passive sequence: Object, Verb, Subject.

People are bored by passive sentences.

You can’t always use the active voice, but most writers should use it more often.

6. Keep paragraphs short

Look at any newspaper and notice the short paragraphs.

That’s done to make reading easier, because our brains take in information better when it’s broken into small chunks.

In academic writing, each paragraph develops one idea and often includes many sentences. But in casual, everyday writing, the style is less formal and paragraphs may be as short as a single sentence or even a single word.

7. Eliminate fluff words

Qualifying words, such as very , little , and rather , add nothing to your meaning and suck the life out of your sentences.

It is very important to basically avoid fluff words because they are rather empty and sometimes a little distracting.

Mark Twain suggested that you should “Substitute damn every time you’re inclined to write very ; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”

8. Don’t ramble

Rambling is a big problem for many writers. Not as big as some other problems, such as affordable health insurance or the Middle East, which has been a problem for many decades because of disputes over territory. Speaking of which, the word “territory” has an interesting word origin from terra , meaning earth.

But the point is, don’t ramble.

9. Don’t be redundant or repeat yourself

Also, don’t keep writing the same thing over and over and over. In other words, say something once rather than several times. Because when you repeat yourself or keep writing the same thing, your readers go to sleep.

10. Don’t over write

This is a symptom of having too little to say or too much ego .

Put your reader first. Put yourself in the background. Focus on the message.

You can instantly and dramatically improve your blog writing skills and immediately explode your profits and skyrocket your online success by following the spectacular, simple, and practical tips found in this groundbreaking new free blog post.

11. Edit ruthlessly

Shorten, delete, and rewrite anything that does not add to the meaning. It’s okay to write in a casual style, but don’t inject extra words without good reason.

To make this easier, break your writing into three steps:

• Write the entire text.
• Set your text aside for a few hours or days.
• Return to your text fresh and edit.

None of us can ever be perfect writers, and no one expects us to be. However, we can all improve our style and sound smarter by following these tips and writing naturally.

40 quick writing tips to help you start today

Looking for more quick writing tips? These 40 pointers will help you organize and express your thoughts.

• Stop overthinking.
• Jot down one idea at a time.
• Write a little bit every day.
• Read something interesting if you’re feeling stuck.
• Make notes in your phone.
• Keep a pen and pad of paper with you when you’re away from your computer.
• Transfer your notes to your computer regularly.
• Pause conversations to capture interesting anecdotes.
• Add interesting anecdotes to conversations.
• Monitor how people react.
• Research fascinating topics.
• Brainstorm the best way to approach a topic.
• Look for fresh angles.
• Listen to a podcast related to your topic.
• Watch a video related to your topic.
• Discover the time of day when you’re most creative.
• Schedule time to write at your desk.
• Clean your desk.
• Know your audience.
• Practice choosing the right words.
• Outline your main points.
• Experiment with how you structure your writing.
• Draft many headlines.
• Craft intriguing subheadlines.
• Use effective bullet points.
• Study other authors.
• Create a messy draft.
• Take a break before you edit.
• Refine your messy draft.
• Edit with your ideal reader in mind.
• Choose simple language.
• Clarify any confusing phrases.
• Keep your explanations concise.
• Go into more detail only when it’s necessary.
• Entertain your reader.
• Share an unpopular opinion.
• Inspire new ideas.
• Transform written articles into other forms of content.
• Prompt your reader to take notes on your content.
• Motivate your reader to share your content.

Want the best of Copyblogger for writers delivered directly to your inbox?

If you’re looking to strengthen your writing skills in practical and effective ways, let us guide you to the best resources on Copyblogger.

Because when you get the exact right information, you can immediately begin to up your game as a content writer. And that’s what’s going to get you the results you want.

The written word drives the web. It always has, and it always will.

Even if you’re working with audio or video, the right words are still what make the difference.

• Words drive engagement.
• Words drive customer experience.
• Words drive sales, growth, and profit.

And if you want to master the art of using words to drive business results, you’ve come to the perfect place — Copyblogger has helped accelerate the careers of writers just like you since 2006.

Jump in (it’s all free) and let us take you straight to the good stuff:

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Reader Interactions

Reader comments (181).

April 7, 2010 at 8:15 am

I think one big word is good, people that use many risk alienating readers. I enjoy articles that have one big word that fits perfectly. It makes me feel the article was worthwhile (I learned something), no matter what.

April 7, 2010 at 8:17 am

At school, I loved maths/science and hated English. My writing was bad. I felt stupid because all the other kids used long words.

Then a few years ago, a good friend of mine, who is a confidence coach, simply told me I was much better understood by others because I used plain and simple words…. none of these pompous long words.

It took someone else to point out my simple writing strength.

September 4, 2010 at 1:29 pm

Friends usually praise me for using simple words in my writing. They said they wanted to learn how to do it. So, they asked me to teach them.

I told them that my writing vocabulary is very limited. I have no other choice but to use simple words. Those are the only words I know.

Jef Menguin

April 7, 2010 at 8:18 am

After all, everything is about simplicity.

Less is more!

April 7, 2010 at 8:19 am

Some writers seem to use ‘rambling’ for comic effect and it seems to work quite well for them – but perhaps it only works for those with an established audience who have come to expect it??

I confess that I fall foul of most of the tips above. 🙁

January 1, 2011 at 6:15 pm

Basically rambling only “works” when the intent is humor. It distracts us from an initial point, sometimes returning us there via a circuitous route, sometimes dropping us off at the head of a totally new pathway. Handled with care, it can leave the reader saying ‘hmph’ to himself as he grins at being cleverly tricked. Handled poorly, it can be accompanied by the sound of a book being slammed shut and tossed into the fire.

I ramble far too much. Not because I have nothing to say or am pretentious, but because I have ADD and that’s the way my brain works. I think that I get more ideas on paper faster than most people, but I think it likely that I spend more time editing in order to get decent copy, too.

August 4, 2011 at 3:13 am

I ramble a ton, and like Bill it’s not to be egotistical or for filler (typically), it’s just that is how I’ve always written. I actually do write with a personal style, but part of my personal style IS my rambling. However, perhaps that should be my next “elimination round” for re-writing since I get less than 50 VIEWS… not visits, not subscribers, but VIEWS a day. My HIGHEST has been 75 VIEWS in a day. No subscribers.

The more I read about other people’s blogs, the more envious I get.

But, I will also say that I’ve been too heavy handed on the “good grammar” aspect of using 4-6 sentence paragraphs, instead of limiting my paragraphs to a just a few sentences if that was all that was necessary.

There I go rambling again. =P

April 7, 2010 at 8:24 am

I hope this post goes viral today – these tips are what strong writers do every day. Saying more with less is the best kind of writing. I think that’s why enjoy blog writing because the whole point is to say as much as you can in the smallest space. What good are big words if they don’t add clarity?

April 7, 2010 at 8:25 am

Thanks for putting this list together. Now, I must apply it!

Information like this is priceless!

Chat with you later… Josh

August 4, 2011 at 3:14 am

I think you just succeeded in every single one of these tips.

April 7, 2010 at 8:30 am

Love Mark Twain’s quote.

By the way, could “brilliant” be considered a fluff word in some context? 🙂

Ana/ YourNetBiz

April 7, 2010 at 8:31 am

This is very useful advice. I find your posts almost always help me. Thank you!

April 7, 2010 at 8:34 am

Damn fine article… Mark Twain would be proud!

I think the title of that study is really clever, though. How often are the titles of studies funny, while also clearly illustrating the point of the study? Full points!

I know it’s widely accepted writing tips gospel, but I’m still unconvinced by the “passive voice must be avoided!” rule of writing. See, when I was taught English (as a foreign language), I was told, “in English, the passive voice is used very often so you will have to learn how to use it.” I did, like a good little student, only to be told later in life I should stop!

Did the last paragraph really bore you that much? (Did you even notice?) Is the active form really always better? Where did this anti-passive sentiment start?

I realise you may not have the answers, but I’ve long wondered, so if you do, fill me in!

September 4, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Passive voice has its own place. It is very useful when you are describing a process or when the doer of the action is not as important as the result.

April 7, 2010 at 8:35 am

I love the big words. Love them. But I tend not to write them so much as I would speak them, so it’s not a problem in my blogging.

Just two days ago I was reading Ray Bradbury’s Zen and the Art of Writing and a maxim jumped right out at me: “…when you write quickly, you write honestly.” I love that. It’s both true and useful. And to follow along with today’s point, when you write quickly, you can’t stuff your writing full of multi-syllabic nonsense someone else can’t easily decipher.

April 7, 2010 at 8:43 am

These are brilliant tips! Anyone of our clients writing copy for their site could benefit from this. Thanks!

April 7, 2010 at 8:45 am

Interesting. I’m translator, and when we speak about these online writing news and challenges of the unknown, it seems that both languages coincide. The same principles apply to my native language (Spanish). I’m ready to read the next 11 tips! Thank you!

April 7, 2010 at 8:47 am

Great advice. I find audio transcription a useful technique to avoid unnatural language, thus my writing comes across more conversational. A great iPhone app for this is Dragon Dictation.

April 7, 2010 at 8:52 am

Great tips! As a psychologist I know of the big words–and they do bore me! Even though I understand the words, I skim over much of them to get to the point. Which might be a the 12th tip here: Get to the point and be done with it!

April 7, 2010 at 8:57 am

If for nothing else, avoid the passive voice since politicians use it to get around tough questions. 🙂

Politicians know “it’s easy to leave the actor out of passive sentences… to avoid mentioning who is responsible for certain actions.”

April 7, 2010 at 9:02 am

I’m a civil servant. I know all about leaving the actor out of sentences, but does that mean the active voice is always better? Is the problem the voice, or the avoidance?

It’s perfectly possible to avoid identifying the actor when writing in the active voice. I did it just now.

Politicians also use soap. Should I stop?

April 7, 2010 at 9:10 am

There is only a small handful of people that have their clocks wound through big words.

The rest of our customers just want to hear us speak in everyday language. When I write copy I like to pretend that I am writing a letter to my grandmother. If she would get what I’m saying then I know it worked.

Great post. Very concise and packed with valuable tidbits.

-Joshua Black The Underdog Millionaire

April 7, 2010 at 9:16 am

It’s great how you made your point both in words and in this blog. Nice job!

April 7, 2010 at 9:18 am

@willie. I’m no active voice extremist, but active rules!

“politicians also use soap. Should I stop?”

Didn’t you mean, “The soap was used by the politicians. Should I be stopped by that?” 😉

April 7, 2010 at 9:23 am

Thank you, Dean. I’ve been reading your stuff for 15 years or more (a yellowed torn-out page from an old DM News confirms this), and you’re always right on. Too many writers, I think, begin with the goal of impressing their audiences. The real goal is communication.

April 7, 2010 at 9:27 am

I always keep in mind that I should write simple words and short sentences when I’m writing.

April 7, 2010 at 9:30 am

@willie, passive voice isn’t always a bad thing. But in general, I agree with Shane & Dean, active voice is clearer and it always identify who or what is doing the action of the sentence.

Too often, passive voice is used to keep from getting clear about what’s actually going on. The classic example being “mistakes were made.” Well ok, that’s helpful in one sense, but it would be good to know who made them.

The reason so many writing teachers recommend reworking passive to active is it’s a quick way to make your writing simpler and more direct. I like the way Dean framed it, rather than saying “it’s always wrong.”

April 7, 2010 at 9:44 am

Excellent and immediately useful tips. Novice blogger.

April 7, 2010 at 9:45 am

Nice post. I see a conflict between #2 and #4. In example #2, you take a sentence and make a paragraph out of it. In #4, you advise shorter sentences. I think the example in #2 would have worked better if you had found a way to use several short sentences to flesh out the description.

I’m a nit picker.

May 1, 2012 at 10:43 am

Benjie, I beg to disagree, there is no conflict. Adjectives and adverbs are two different things. He advises against using “unnecessary” words and keep it to the point, not do away with subject matter altogether.

April 7, 2010 at 9:56 am

Probably one of my biggest downfalls is being a little too stiff in my writing style. I appreciate your tips Dean. I think we all know many of these things. I’ll be very good at my writing for day, then start to get carried away and back into bad habits. Nice refresher.

April 7, 2010 at 10:01 am

“Sesquipedalian” means the use of especially big or long words. You should assiduously eschew obfuscatory prolixity and hyperverbosity.

April 7, 2010 at 10:08 am

Your post was very good, Dean. A nice, clean, spare writing style is something to be envied. I go in spurts. When I organize myself and clear my head, I do well. My thoughts flow and I lose myself in my writing. I glance at the clock and realize I’ve been writing and editing the same piece for 2 hours. I feel good about the end result.

Then, the next day, things may go all to heck in a handcart. I allow the tyranny of the urgent to take over and find myself racing to get things done. My work suffers, my desk gets more cluttered and I get so scattered I don’t do anything particularly well.

That’s when I pull back and decide to let my writing take a breather, while I catch up on other things. I don’t allow myself to turn out garbage. When I’m back to the right place in my head, I start writing again.

Thanks for the reminders and the little insights.

Steve Benedict

April 7, 2010 at 10:17 am

To take a page from Hemingway… good post! Time to drink.

April 7, 2010 at 10:19 am

You are singing my song. I read so much tangled writing every day that my eyes hurt.

April 7, 2010 at 10:24 am

@Bob, thanks for the reminder about a word I happen to love!

@James, laughing, thanks.

April 7, 2010 at 10:27 am

As a grammar lover, librarian, Mark Twain fan, and nit-picker, I love everything about the post.

I recently learned that there is now an opera based on Strunk’s The Elements of Style, for anyone who just can’t get through the book:)

April 7, 2010 at 10:36 am

ps. Active voice cuts down on word count, too. At 8 cents per word, that can add up with the proofer.

April 7, 2010 at 10:37 am

OK, well, I’m not trying to start the passive voice appreciation society here (although I do think it’s been unneccesarily hated on by some).

And, yes, the passive voice can be and is used to obfuscate. Sometimes, though, who is doing the obfuscating (for example) is either unimportant or really obvious (here it’s clearly the aforementioned soap-using politicians). (The bastards.)

I guess my main issue with “avoid the passive voice” as writing advice is that for many of us, determining whether a sentence is in active or passive voice is a non-trivial task. It is a non-trivial task to me, and I’m *good* at grammar.

Instead of spending time working out whether each of your sentences is active or passive, is it not more efficient to hunt for things that are unclear, or wordy, or that sound like a civil servant wrote it?

April 7, 2010 at 10:38 am

Great tips to keep in mind, especially number 4 – I am Queen of the never ending sentence.

April 7, 2010 at 10:45 am

I think these are all very useful tips – thanks for sharing. The advice on short sentences, paragraphs and not writing too much are something I think would make a lot of blogs a lot better and are sins I often fall foul of myself (I am a chronic over-writer).

Josh, is that opera real? I’m the kind of word geek who’d go and see it!

April 7, 2010 at 10:50 am

I’ll definitely apply these tips. Thanks for posting it! More power! (^_^)

April 7, 2010 at 10:56 am

@Willie, it only takes a few seconds to erase passive.

In your word processor, do a search for any form of “to be” (ex. “is, are, am, was, were, has been, have been, had been, will be, can be, should be, would be.”). If verbs follow these words, it’s probably passive voice.

To establish niche authority, we need to write with authority. And, yes, you’re making me laugh (Josh, too).

Passive voice is to be avoided because many extra syllables are added for it to be accomplished.

Avoid passive voice, which adds many extra syllables. (43% difference)

As for the big words and complex sentence issues– while thesauritis and inelegant subordination can lead to obsfucation, we have 800,000 words to choose from and complex ideas to convey. Simple sentences cannot express complex, subtle relationships. The world of ideas should not be limited to a 4th grade reading level.

April 7, 2010 at 11:09 am

Great article. I noticed I’m doing a couple of these things. I need to stop.

Another thing to add to Edit Ruthlessly: read your copy out loud. One of the quickest ways to catch all the points that come before 11.

April 7, 2010 at 11:34 am

Great blogging advice! Ban the fluff, for sure. Be concise. Be simple if/when possible. And *usually* brevity is helpful too, but rambling from time to time CAN be just what the meandering flâneur needs… 😉

April 7, 2010 at 11:40 am

This is right in line with the lessons from a business writing course I’m taking. What’s interesting is that I didn’t realize that I was adding fluff words, cliches, etc. until after I took the course. I now find myself auto-correcting my writing more.

Your tips are simple, but so valuable. I think more of us need these tips than we realize.

Thanks for sharing.

April 7, 2010 at 11:41 am

I do wish that Dean had a career in politics. It would be so good to hear less hot air and more truth from those who are supposed to govern us.

April 7, 2010 at 11:53 am

Love this as so many of us are guilty of these at one point or another. I am not a fan of the big words as it do not find them to be very conversational. I do not necessarily talk in big words so why would I write that way is sort of my model for writing. For me it is not necessarily about looking smarter or not, it is about how I talk and transferring that over to how I write.

These tips are ones to remember esp when we do start to ramble – resists the inviting temptation.

@SuzanneVara

April 7, 2010 at 12:08 pm

I’ve always been a believer in these suggestions. Always remembering to use them is another question…

April 7, 2010 at 12:13 pm

“Is passive voice must have to be avoided?” I think it shouldn’t, because it is the smartest way to keep long your article without adding some extra information.

April 7, 2010 at 12:18 pm

I disagree with #3. I think some well-placed “big words” beg the reader to grow instead of “talking down.” As mdb wrote in the first reply, it may ask them to learn something new. Maybe I write to stir people differently, as I’m sure personal style creates its own parameters. I feel it’s most important to string words together in your own voice.

Of course, I’ve yet to really go out and develop an audience. I may adapt my view when that time comes.

April 7, 2010 at 1:16 pm

Be succinct!

April 7, 2010 at 1:26 pm

I got a kick out of this: Mark Twain suggested that you should “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”

It’s damn good! [Edited: It’s good; hmm it doesn’t sound as good as it seems. This is the case where you gotta keep the ‘damn’! Of course it’s not professional, but you don’t have to be.]

One side thought: Although many Copyblogger posts are driving home the same messages, repetition is crucial in making the messages stick. Everytime I read a new post, I get some new ideas to work on. This always happens even if I’d already seen the tips/advices tens of times.

April 7, 2010 at 2:15 pm

After further consideration, I think the picture you’re trying to paint is the guiding principle.

You can say something “takes hard work” or be more descriptive and refer to “inglorious and unglamorous toil.”

Again, it comes down to style. Just a second though to share.

April 7, 2010 at 2:43 pm

Great list of tips to keep us all focused. For those of us that had to write huge papers in high school and college, writing so that most people can understand and enjoy does not come naturally.

We’ve been taught that you have to use flowery language and write above people’s heads.

Do that online and you’ll have a bunch of bored readers. Keep things short, interesting and to the point.

April 7, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Love this! Your first point is great. Have something worthwhile to say. When you do have meaning behind your words, it’s easy to write simply and specifically. You know your point. You get it across. Job well done.

April 7, 2010 at 3:04 pm

My favorite: “Shorten, delete, and rewrite anything that does not add to the meaning. It’s okay to write in a casual style, but don’t inject extra words without good reason.”

April 7, 2010 at 3:21 pm

I’m guilty of many of these, especially #s 5 and 7. But a bigger issue for me is trying to balance writing for attorneys with good blogging. I can see how #3 makes sense for content in general, but most of my clients prefer “commence” and similar words in legal docs. I guess it means I must juggle 2 writing styles to blog well and satisfy my clients. Thanks for the tips, timely as always!

April 7, 2010 at 3:24 pm

Great list 🙂 I am very new in the field of writing and I feel your post directly pointed out to me the areas I need to work on.

Thank you for sharing those strategies 🙂

April 7, 2010 at 4:34 pm

I’ve been thinking about this post all day. Every time I sat down to write something, I double checked to be sure I wasn’t using any $100 words. It’s unlikely that I would, but as a graduate student I have added a few “academic” terms to my vocabulary. I would hate for them to slip in to everyday conversation! 🙂

April 7, 2010 at 4:35 pm

Great stuff. Short and sweet. Thank you.

April 7, 2010 at 4:38 pm

Great tips Dean. I’ll keep an eye on my “very, little and rather” etc. I think I’m guilty. I’ve never given much thought to the active vs passive voicing before either. Thanks for posting.

April 7, 2010 at 4:51 pm

It is sometimes hard not to use big words to describe something… It can be quicker and more precise to use technical jargon and fancy words but you do have to get your message across to your reader, who may not have the depth of your vocabulary. Personally, I don’t know many big words… I think wordy is better than verbose anyway, which is what I am becoming here…

April 7, 2010 at 5:23 pm

@Dean – Thanks for the article, and especially the damn fine Mark Twain quote. I love it.

@WillieHewes – My gripe with passive voice is that it usually hurts clarity. I agree that “determining whether a sentence is in active or passive voice is a non-trivial task”, so I let Microsoft Word help. I swear that its grammar checker draws immense pleasure from harassing me about passive voice. I gripe, but my rewrite is usually much clearer. Maybe your word processing software has a similar torture-the-writer option. Word doesn’t have an option to flag writing that sounds-like-a-civil-servant-wrote-it though. Maybe in the next version 🙂

April 7, 2010 at 5:33 pm

Fantastic tips. It’s essential to strike a balance between writing detailed, specific points and eliminating grandiose phrasing.

Amen, Dean. Excellent post.

April 7, 2010 at 5:47 pm

There’s nothing worse than trying to eke out a post when you have nothing to say! I’ve been guilty of it several times, but my new technique is to plan out (bullet point) all my drafts on a Monday, then they simmer away in my mind and I fill in the gaps later in the week. It’s saving me a lot of time actually.

April 7, 2010 at 6:40 pm

I think that everyone who writes should read Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’, even if you’re not a fiction writer. He covers a lot of these tips, actually. I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says, like cutting all your adverbs (a well-placed one can be handy), but since I read it I can see where I’m going wrong and fix it – and see how much better it is afterwards.

April 7, 2010 at 7:18 pm

Thanks Dean, your words have ignited a spark of responses hungry for simplified expression. Me too as I struggle to find ways to describe the way something looks.. as in a product that effects a great look expressed as ‘gorgeous..’ Any thoughts as to expression of tired words so people don’t switch off ?

April 7, 2010 at 7:37 pm

Its an awesome article. I have been struggling to write these simple words and explain correctly. Now, I have some idea and hopefully I will use on my website. I have been writing a website on Nepal with lots of helpful informations. If you guys could help me how to simplify my writing visiting my website that would be awesome.

April 7, 2010 at 7:46 pm

Holy crap! Love the tips, but I am not reading all these comments. lol. I would be here for hours, and I’m sure I would run across a few redundant things.

I love number 7. Eliminate the fluff. Cut it out. Chop it up. Anything that can help us keep it simple, make it more readable and get our message across is a good lesson to learn. Damn good!

April 7, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Love the Mark Twain quote!

Simplicity is key.

April 7, 2010 at 10:17 pm

Thanks for the great post! K.I.S.S. when you communicate.

April 8, 2010 at 3:02 am

These Tips are very unique and easy to learn …. I like it, Thanks for sharing!! 🙂

April 8, 2010 at 5:33 am

“Word doesn’t have an option to flag writing that sounds-like-a-civil-servant-wrote-it though. Maybe in the next version.”

They should totally build that. I might even use the programme if they did.

April 8, 2010 at 7:15 am

I will never be able to write ‘very’ again without thinking about Mark Twain.

April 8, 2010 at 8:17 am

One of the other advantages of the Write – Wait – Edit approach is that you will discover words that have been left out and should be there to complete a sentence.

The missing words are in your head when you write the article and when you review it right after writing. The missing words are no longer in your head when you come back later to review and edit the article.

April 8, 2010 at 8:30 am

Leaving the text and coming back later is a trick that I swear by. I also read text out loud to spot errors.

Mark Twain cracks me up.

April 8, 2010 at 9:22 am

Good writing tips here. I do have a tendency of getting a little long winded some times. How do you like Thesis? I’m considering purchasing.

April 8, 2010 at 9:36 am

Luv 1 – 8 and 10

I guess having something to write SHOULD be your first step..lol

April 8, 2010 at 10:47 am

Thanks for firmly reminding me about what I know but tend to ignore!

Especially timely as I write monthly blogs and website articles for clients, as well as myself. This will help me give them better value.

April 8, 2010 at 10:50 am

Excellent post Dean. The idea is to welcome readers and let them know that we are just as ordinary as any other person. This keeps the readers coming back as having simple English laid out enables more understanding, instantly encouraging him/her to ENGAGE with the writer; which is important.

April 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm

This is an interesting study. However, this seems to be stating the obvious. Overusing complex terminology and vague adjectives definitely alienates the average reader. Technical vernacular is appropriate for trade journals and other professional publication but vague adjectives always make the writer seem less credible. I am a journalism student at the University of Kansas and these are the types writing guideline that were drilled into our brains during the first research and writing class we were required to take. All these guidelines are basic AP and inverted pyramid news writing styles. Nevertheless, it is nice to see one scientific field provide legitimacy to the practices of another.

April 8, 2010 at 4:31 pm

I agree. Using complicated words only makes you sound like you’re trying to be smart as apposed to actually being smart. Got a chuckle out of “See?”

April 8, 2010 at 5:12 pm

Thanks for this article. I really need it today, and I have it bookmarked. Awesome tips.

April 8, 2010 at 8:42 pm

Agreed! I feel the most inspired and creative when I’m taking simple ideas and turning them into fresh, exciting, new insight. It’s the same with words. It’s how you use them together and develop the relationship between them. In a vaccum, words mean nothing. Delicately crafted, they’re powerful tools.

April 9, 2010 at 3:01 am

I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent and articulate person. But when I read academic articles and journals I typically find them full of words that seem designed to confuse. So a really useful application of these basic rules would be in academic papers. Encourage understanding rather than show how clever you are.

By the way, love the site.

April 9, 2010 at 3:27 pm

These are some very good tips. Especially #1 “Having Something To Say.” Because without this it’s a waste of time for you and your readers.

Kind regards,

April 11, 2010 at 11:08 am

Thank for the tips, there are many people like me who are not the best at writing but we still want to express ourselves.

To writers these are already embedded in them, but for those who aren’t, it is always great to see read them to start the process of having them naturally enforced in our writing.

April 11, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Simple, concise, brilliant.

April 12, 2010 at 8:15 am

I am going to print this and hang it by my computer to serve as a reminder.

An important trick I see some great writers use is rhythm. They use words like a paint brush and are able make something boring or difficult easier to read. I compare to a photograph of an ugly person wearing a nice shirt.

April 16, 2010 at 10:35 pm

Simply brilliant. A good reference would be “On Writing Well”, an excellent book which covers many of these topics in such simplicity that you wonder why you didn’t remember them from high school or grammar school …. (did they ever teach us that stuff?) Thank you!

April 17, 2010 at 9:06 pm

Reading this was so refreshing…Thanks for the great content. I’m going to print it and keep it handy it was so good!

April 19, 2010 at 11:11 am

July 29, 2010 at 2:36 pm

Well, I think it’s pretty clear from the subtitle of the study that the main title was a joke… And while a “conversational” style of copy is more effective in general, I think how far to go with that is dependent on the site that you are writing for. If I’m writing copy for a VoTech, I do not want to go overly verbose, but sounding like I’m a teenager texting my friends does not work either. And while I suppose it is ultimately true that you have to take into account smaller and smaller vocabularies, sometimes it is just easier and more efficient to use a “big word”.

April 23, 2011 at 3:10 pm

I try to use the simplest word that exactly fits the situation. Sometimes a ‘larger’, less familiar word is the correct match. “Dumbing down” is not the correct approach for everything.

If I were describing a General speaking to the Senate, at first I would have him use military gobbledygook to try to BS the Senators (a pre-emptive counter-strike against the counter-insurgents*, for instance). Then, when the bull stuff hit the PhD (Piled Higher & Deeper) levels, I’d have the Senators interrupt him for a definition in layman terms. The General might not even know the layman terms … so he/she would have to fumble in the simple-words backpack for something that might be useful.

Finally, the Senators might choose to express their frustration and say something to the effect of “General, let’s cut to the chase … when you aim the damned thing and pull the trigger, what in the hell is supposed to happen next?”

Is there a simpler term for “gobbledygook”? Definitely … but you’d have to string a bunch of those simpler terms together to express the same thought and that would NOT simplify either the writing or the reading.

There is concision in precision.

Use a large word when it suits the purpose better than a short word or a brief phrase. Use the larger word when it will be understood by your audience at least as readily as-a-bunch-of-small-words-piled-up-in-a-three-high-traffic-accident-just-before-the-full-stop.

Just my 2 cents worth.

*attacking the lawful government

July 31, 2010 at 9:31 am

Well I agree with this: Nobody can be perfect writers.

As time passes by we become aware of the mistakes what we do commonly and try to correct it to improvise ourselves.

August 17, 2010 at 12:51 am

The word fat is a perfectly good one, but when it is hijacked by neo-puritans, with the implication that slimness equates to virtue, we are on dangerous ground.

August 21, 2010 at 9:04 am

I endorse this completely. This stuff is what I teach my essay writing students. I wonder if all these are applicable to writing marketing copy.

August 31, 2010 at 2:59 am

Brilliant tips! These impart a lot of confidence into people like me, who would want to try a hand at writing a blog.

October 25, 2010 at 6:44 am

I love to write……simple. Earlier I used to feel I wasn’t good at writing for I couldn’t remember long words, however much I had tried. Really, I had given a lot to digest long dictionary word so that I could also write ‘good’. Somewhere inside I always hated looking into the dictionary while reading books. And that was probably the reason why I could never remember long words.

When I started with content writing job, I realized that: at least on the web, nobody is going to sit with a dictionary to understand my text. I only use longer synonyms of any simple word when the word itself has been already used. I, as a reader also, want to read and understand a sentence in an instant…. and want to build up a similar content for all readers……so now I love writing SIMPLE…..

April 23, 2011 at 3:43 pm

The way to read a sentence “in an instant” … ANY sentence … is to build up your vocabulary and grammar. The way to do that is to read material that is challenging: not material with all the life sucked out of it by the “keep it simple” police.

The way to limit your audience to those who can barely drool is to continually accommodate the least literate of them. As we have seen on the internet, that bar continually gets lower and lower. It’s a race to the bottom. All you have to do is find a line of fools, blow a whistle to get their attention, then walk away, dropping marshmallows behind you. In the end, your readers will not be able to understand you (in ANY language) and you will not be able to find simple enough words to actually communicate anything beyond “New!”, “Improved!”.

Don’t go there. Don’t lower your own command of the language and don’t talk down to your readers. Yes, you will gain the less literate … but it will come at the expense of the more literate (who generally have more disposable income).

Look at the ads for luxury automobiles. They generally have a few VERY well chosen words. They aren’t afraid of tossing in foreign terms or using unusual typefaces (which, I assure you, were as thoroughly tested as the words themselves).

You will not become a better writer by abandoning your craft and aiming for the bottom of the pile. You become a better writer by mastering your craft and aiming at any part of the pile you choose.

October 26, 2010 at 4:20 am

The tips above strike a chord. I love to read anything that neatly describes what I already believe, but failed to put into words myself.

October 27, 2010 at 12:10 am

All these rules basically work together – if you use one, often times, the rest will follow. For example, if you work on 4. “keeping it short,” you will also avoid 7-10, avoiding rambling, fluff, redundancy, and over writing. I agree that big words are not always best, but I’m not sure how I feel about steering clear of ‘longer’ words. Sometimes, I think “utilize” is an appropriate replacement for use. Use can sound bland whereas utilize, if you ask me, falls under step 2 of being specific – utilize paints a more descriptive image for the reader. Other than that, I think these 11 tips are simple and completely on target. It’s hard to disappoint when you follow guidelines as point-blank and directional as these. And better yet, they apply to all forms or writing: blogs, memos, letters, documents, anything.

October 28, 2010 at 12:03 pm

The ‘complex’ title that you described made me chuckle, and effectively got the point across. I have always struggled with keeping my writing concise and clear. Your post offers some great advice to students like me who are looking for ways to work on their writing. Thanks for these tips. I always try to remember to cut out ‘fat’ around my message – excess words that do not really add to the sentence. It’s painful at first, but I can notice the improvement after. Remembering these tips can really help writers stand out, as you have described. Thanks again!

October 28, 2010 at 2:14 pm

These tips go right along with our firm’s motto: “Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Thanks for the reminder.

Maureen Dudley of Dudley & Nunez Communications

November 11, 2010 at 11:39 am

Amazing tips that will give readers a more entertaining copy to read.

November 11, 2010 at 12:10 pm

Good tips. Now if I could just get my clients to read this and follow your advice. Keep it simple and edit, edit, edit. Well written. Thanks for the post!

November 13, 2010 at 3:21 am

Even though I know a lot of this stuff intuitively, I feel it’s really helpful to see it listed so clearly. This is a great article.

November 29, 2010 at 10:39 am

The overwriting part is helpful. I really like this blog. Excuse me I d@#$mn like this blog.

December 10, 2010 at 10:05 pm

I was taught English as a second language. And now I’m excising my writing skills working as an copywriter. These tips are really helpful. 🙂

March 1, 2011 at 10:11 am

That’s a great list. A useful read for anybody who wishes to write well!

April 16, 2011 at 10:20 pm

Dean, I am agree with all of your views. As non-native speaker, we sometimes tend to use some complex, unusual and metaphoric words to make our writing (so-called) standard…But simplicity is the most powerful way in every step of our life… A must-read post… Thanks!

April 23, 2011 at 4:03 pm

I’ve added a couple counter-points to earlier comments. Now I’d like to suggest a #12. Shoot it down if you can.

Of those portions of the world who speak English, many of them speak it only as a second tongue, a language of necessity. It has to do with English speaking people having money and guns and a willingness to use one whenever the other fails to achieve the desired results. Those who read your material in their native language will bring a sense of gratitude and pride to the reading. This can result in sales that would have otherwise been missed.

So, here’s the proposed rule:

Even if you also post in English, do not neglect to post in your native tongue.

April 26, 2011 at 6:09 am

I’ve always found that less is often more. Simple words, short sentences will keep the readers coming back. These are great tips 🙂

April 26, 2011 at 10:40 am

Keep it short. It’s much harder to write a little than a lot. Editing may be harder than writing. Read my blog, The Pragmatic Marketer for insights and tips.

April 27, 2011 at 2:11 am

Excellent tips to be mindful of. Sometimes I tend to write sentences too long. I can see the gist of writing small sentences. Choice.

May 14, 2011 at 10:12 am

I find your advice useful. The article itself followed the rules you outlined. Good articles don’t need to take forever to read.

May 17, 2011 at 4:11 pm

Some fantastic tips in this article especially the passive voice , this is a mistake I always make in writing ,Thank you for sharing.

June 6, 2011 at 9:58 pm

Amazing article, and the Tips are just so juicy and easy to understand.

Thank You very much!

July 26, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Fun fact of the day: ‘utilize’ doesn’t even mean ‘use.’ It means to use in a novel way. If you put cereal in a bowl, you’re not utilizing it. If you put the bowl on your head to use as a guide for cutting hair, you’re probably also not utilizing it – lots of people have done that before. If you put the bowl on your head and then dangle a chain from your ear and pretend to be a lamp, while someone takes a picture, maybe then you’re utilizing the bowl.

So – 90% of the time, if you’re using the word ‘utilize,’ you probably shouldn’t be.

Also – notice the single quotes around the words? Double quotes are for quotations, not emphasis. And, yeah, bold would be better still. Oh, gee! Look at the time!

I feel better now. 🙂

August 21, 2011 at 7:13 pm

I think it all depends on context, though. IMHO, big words can make you seem smarter, if you slip them in amidst a bunch of smaller ones. It’s overkill that murders your prose. Not the use of big words.

Anyway, thanks for this great article. Brevity is not my strong point. I like long sentences. A lot. I have to resist the urge to use them quite often. I fail more often than not, however, and that’s why I must humbly thank you for this perfect article on the subject. Maybe this time the advice will go to heart.

Probably not.

Have a great day, and happy writing!

September 20, 2011 at 7:26 pm

Simplicity is complicated.

October 28, 2011 at 1:39 am

A great post………… important thing is to apply it!

December 5, 2011 at 5:54 am

Rightly said all well put together,Great post.

December 13, 2011 at 12:42 pm

This was overall a very informative article, but I must disagree with you over the title of that study you cited. I believe the authors were using a little tongue-in-cheek humor to further emphasize what they found in their study – I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on that.

December 15, 2011 at 4:53 pm

I should have read this before I started writing and blogging. Now i know exactly what to do and forget about high sounding words that always make me freak out before I even go half way of my articles. I thought and many people think too that using big words is the way to effective writing. Thank you for a very informative article that writers could use to improve their writing.

February 13, 2012 at 5:47 am

I have always used simple words in my copy. But at times you risk being labelled as someone with a limited vocabulary. Cannot help but use some big words to make the seemingly mundane copy better.

February 19, 2012 at 7:50 pm

My argument has always been that even if you can understand all those big words, do you want to wade through them? Especially if you’re working to understand the message itself or follow some instructions. Simple writing is easiest to read and distracts less from the message so it’s great to see these tips available for people wanting to improve their writing.

May 2, 2012 at 11:54 am

Okay, time for a difference of opinion. I don’t agree with this article one-hundred percent. While it’s true that there are good books that are straight to the point, what’s wrong with novels with big words and loads of description? I ask you all to truly think about this. You say we should all use smaller words, less complex words. Well then, why even have those big words in the dictionary if no one uses them? We might as well make our dictionaries simpler if our vocabularies are going to be so. But in the process, I feel, something terrible happens, our lives become a little less rich. So what if novel makes use of big words? Reading words I’m unfamiliar with has done no harm to me, but encouraged me to look through a dictionary to find their meanings. This in turn has enlivened my vocabulary and made my life all the more richer and fulfilling. We should have the intelligence to learn new words, the mental comprehension to do so.

Next issue I have with this article, the need to always write short sentences and never to ramble. Again, why? Some of the greatest literature is incredibly wordy. Let’s take a look at Moby Dick. It rambles on and on. Some people hate, I admit it. But I found the book to be thought-provoking in it’s wordiness. The same goes for Great Expectations. These books, though wordy, allow to really reflect inner-thoughts in a way I have found very meaningful. Books with loads of description, like Lord of the Rings, with tons of sentences, going into detail descriptions on the lands alone, allow me immerse myself in the fantasy land that Tolkien has created, something I find fantasy books with shorter descriptions have not allowed me to do so. There is a poetry to some of these long-winded novels, a beauty.

As I said before, straight to the point novels with little description and smaller words are not bad novels. They can be very good novels. But wanting every novel to be written like that smacks of something the fast food generation wants, something called instant gratification. They want results now, they want their food now. Sometimes I wonder if there is a correlation to the fast food generation to people wanting their novels always simple and straight to the point. To say that novels should only be written one way, which this article seems to be saying, is a disservice to literature and it’s many diverse writers. I ask you all to think it over.

May 2, 2012 at 12:45 pm

Fair enough, Jonathan, except the article isn’t about writing novels — it’s about writing content in service to a business.

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The Graduate Writing Guy :: Writing Tips for Grad School

How to “sound smart”

The title of of this page is a bit of a “bait and switch,” because my advice about trying to sound smart in your writing is very simple: Don’t.

Trying to sound smart almost always backfires and results in the exact opposite. Or, to put it more gently, the best way to sound smart is to try to be as clear, concrete, and direct as possible. When you make clear statements and the reader understands exactly what you mean, the reader will view you as smart and educated. On the other hand, if you go out of your way to use abstractions or “big words” to sound smart, you will usually just confuse the reader. And the confused reader will not think “Wow, this writer is so smart.” They will think “Wow, this person doesn’t know how to write clearly.” For example, contrast these sentences:

These sentences mean essentially the same thing, but the first one is clear and makes sense, while the second one is unnecessarily difficult to read. If someone were to write the second one in an email to me, for example, I wouldn’t be impressed by the author’s vocabulary. I’d be dumbfounded that the author uses so many words to say so little.

Also, unnecessary abstraction can make things confusing. Contrast these two sentences:

When I read  (a) , I know exactly what happened. When I read  (b) , I don’t. It’s not that  (b)  is grammatically incorrect. It’s not even that  (b)  is unnecessarily verbose, like  (2)  above. It’s just that  (b)  is kind of vague and abstract. What exactly does “behaved aggressively” mean? “Behaved aggressively” could mean a whole range of abusive behaviors, including yelling, insulting, threatening, throwing things… you get the picture. If I want to say that the bully hit the small kid in the arm, I should just say that directly. Being direct doesn’t make my writing sound “stupid” or unintelligent. Quite the opposite. It makes my writing seem no-nonsense and on-topic. Those are good qualities. See  this post on abstraction and vagueness  from the Thesis Whisperer for more on this point.

Now, does this mean that you should never use abstractions? Does it mean that you have to deliberately “dumb down” your writing to make it accessible? No. If you are talking about an abstract concept, abstract terms are necessary. For example, if I was writing a philosophy paper on the nature of “freedom,” that’s an abstract concept. You can’t pick up freedom or buy it at the store. So, of course you’ll have to use abstract terms to talk about it. Or consider mathematics: the number three (or any other number, for that matter) is an abstraction—you can’t go visit the number three, or capture it in a net, or observe it in the wild. So, if we were discussing philosophical concepts in math, we would need to speak in abstractions.

However, it’s best to use abstract terms when discussing abstract things, and concrete terms when discussing concrete, definite things.

The same goes for technical terms or “jargon.” Sometimes these are necessary. But if a particular term might not be familiar to your reader, you should define it. For more info on this topic, and related ones, see my Style and Clarity page .

Note: Another version of the text on this page appears on my FAQ on Admissions Essays page . In other words, this advice is relevant to academic writing in general, which includes both admissions essays and research writing.

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The Hyperbolit School

Your trusty englit guide.

3 tips to sound smart in writing (and 1 thing to avoid)

We all want to sound smart, but how do you sound smart in writing?

In fact, what makes those who ‘sound smart’ sound, well, smart?

Is it about what they say, or is it in how they say it?

Does substance or style count for more when we’re trying to impress?

Among the various factors which affect the way we judge whether or not we find someone ‘intelligent’, I’ve noticed over the years that one behavioural trait always seems to appeal, and that’s the habit of using ‘big words’ . 

What’s the deal with using ‘big words’?

To start, it’s probably a good idea to clarify what I mean by ‘big words’.

The way I see it, ‘big words’ are not necessarily polysyllabic (although they can often be of Latinate origin). They are, however, definitely not mainstream, and they don’t often pertain to basic, pedestrian concepts.

But I must point out that what may seem like a ‘big word’ to me could be a perfectly normal word to another person.

A rhetorician’s ‘antimetabole’ is a biologist’s ‘oxidoreductases’, so what constitutes ‘big’ (in the sense of difficult) can be relative.

On the other hand, a very short word like “mien” or “fey” could qualify as a ‘big word’ by virtue of being niche, while lengthier words such as “extraordinary” or “artificiality” have long gained popular usage and as such, probably wouldn’t fall within most people’s ‘big word’ basket. 

At this point, I must confess that I used to be a compulsive ‘big word user’, but being now older and a tad bit wiser, I don’t think using ‘big words’ is necessarily a sign of intelligence, or even of good writing.

That said, I maintain a frivolous interest in keeping a personal lexicon of ‘big words’, which is perhaps similar to the way a car aficionado collects vintage automobiles, but never has any practical use for them.

My reasoning for why ‘big words’ don’t always reflect intelligent writing is simple, and it has to do with a defining quality that smart people and good writing share:

Both are easily understood by others.

If people understand what you’re saying, it means you’ve conveyed your message effectively, and effective communication is the cornerstone of success in an interaction-driven society.

For what is the use of a genius brain, if its owner can’t express her thoughts and convince the world of her genius?

I should also caveat that ‘academic people’ aren’t exactly the same as ‘smart people’. Many academics are incredibly erudite (but often only in their very narrow fields of interest), and while some are definitely very smart, this is not always the case. And God forbid if anyone thinks the opaque prose in PhD dissertations qualifies as ‘good writing’ – it doesn’t.

So… are ‘big words’ a big no-no in writing, then?

Why, then, are some of us still convinced that someone’s preference for using a phrase like “meretricious persiflage” over “trashy conversation”, or the casual-not-so-casual Latinate allusion to “apropos of” rather than the considerably more demotic “regarding”, is a sure marker of intellectual capital?

And why does the American Graduate Record Examination (GRE), an entrance test for applicants of US postgraduate programs, specifically test its candidates on difficult, and at times archaic, vocabulary? Surely, it’s ironic to consider the knowledge of niche words a life skill when the majority of people don’t understand and won’t use these words.

But here’s the catch, and it’s an important one which very much justifies the existence of ‘big words’:

Difficult vocabulary isn’t a matter of practical use; it’s a socio-economic asset, an intangible bearing of cultural refinement, the verbal equivalent to an investment in gold and precious metals.

Bluntly put, it is a manner of speech that shows ‘I’m educated, therefore I am’ in way more syllables than is necessary – and as such, commands bewildered respect.

‘Big words’ are also surprisingly useful for covering up muddled thought, or for when there is really nothing to say, but you still have to say something (and sound impressive while at it!)

In this light, there’s definitely value to throwing in a lexical caterpillar or two in our writing, lest others aren’t aware that we’re the ‘well-educated sort’, even when what we’re doing is to compensate for the absence of content with the abundance of what Hamlet calls ‘ words, words, words ’. 

So, while using ‘big words’ can indeed make our writing sound smart (provided that they’re used correctly, of course!), this tactic alone won’t create truly intelligent prose, which is instead the product of clear thought, genuine emotion, and sharp observation.

Basically, if you have a point to make, feel strongly about it, and know how to describe it in a way that’s faithful to your vision, then you’re on track to writing some damn good stuff, ‘big words’ or otherwise.

1) How to write with clear thought

I often get asked by others on how they can improve their writing, and I always start by saying this:

Writing isn’t just about putting words on the page.

Writing is about thinking, feeling, processing, observing, reflecting, and doing these things for enough times until you get to a mental place where you’re finally ready to put pen to paper.

The act of writing itself is simply the execution; the process that precedes the execution is key.

This is why great writers are also always great thinkers.

In general, there are two camps of writers: those who see writing as a medium to convey ideas, and those who see writing as an art form – an aesthetic end in and of itself.

Literary scholars call this distinction ‘ Didacticism ’ vs ‘ Aestheticism ’ (‘big word’ alert!), with people like Leo Tolstoy and George Eliot falling in the first group, and those like Oscar Wilde and John Keats in the second. Most authors fall somewhere in between the spectrum.

But thinking about this distinction is where we should all start: do you write because you have a point to make or prove?

Or do you write for the sake of showcasing the beauty of language and style?

If the latter, then perhaps you’d be justified to use more rhetorical flourish than is ‘necessary’. Either way, we’re good – we just need to make our minds up before proceeding. 

That said, even with the ‘Aestheticists’, there’s always some sort of agenda and ‘hidden message’ in any piece of writing. In fact, the act of showing that ‘I’m not writing to communicate anything in particular’ is, well, communicating a message.

To ensure that you know what, why and how you’re writing, then, it’s important that we ask ourselves the following questions:

• What sort of audience are you targeting?
• What message do you want to communicate?
• Why does your message matter to your audience?
• How will your audience change for having read your writing? (This could be for better or worse – it just depends on your agenda)

To use this very article as my example, these are my answers: 

• What sort of audience am I targeting? 

English learners (students and adults) with a solid understanding of the language, but wish to improve their reading and writing skills

• What message do I want to communicate? 

Writing well isn’t just about using ‘big’, impressive vocabulary. There are other more important factors, such as clarity in thought, depth of emotion and sharpness of observation, which go into ‘good writing’ 

• Why does my message matter to my audience? 

It matters because anyone who wants to do well in English must understand what it takes to express oneself effectively on paper.

• How will my audience change for having read my writing? 

My audience will (hopefully) understand what it is they should focus on in order to write well.

If you can’t answer these four questions in succinct responses, then that probably means you need to go back to the drawing (or writing) board and think about why you’re writing in the first place.

Determine your purpose first; the writing will come afterwards. 

2) How to write with genuine emotion

This may seem slightly confusing to some, especially for those who don’t write fiction or narrative essays. But my point here is precisely that emotion must fuel any act of writing, regardless of whether the piece is argumentative, descriptive or expository in nature.

This is because emotion bespeaks conviction; emotion is what gives credibility to your purpose, which in turn allows you to affect those you’re addressing with the same kind of purpose you hold.

This idea is broadly relevant to Aristotle’s concept of pathos, which refers to the power of speech to evoke an audience’s feeling of pity or sympathy towards a topic or person. Of course, when it comes to the range of emotions writers seek to evoke in readers, it’d be a lot more diverse than just pity or sympathy – pleasure, melancholy, anxiety, anger – these are all common emotions we encounter in novels, articles, poems etc.

What’s important, though, is that you, the writer, must feel these emotions yourself in the process of writing.

So, if you’re writing an op-ed article about the gross double-standards of your government’s lockdown directives , then you need to be genuinely riled up about the issue before you can write a convincing piece on it.

Likewise, if you’re trying to describe the beauty of pastoral landscape, then you’d have to be genuinely in awe of nature in order for your descriptions to strike a chord with your readers.

While we don’t necessarily have to have experienced whatever we’re writing about, we should at least feel something about the bigger idea behind what we’re relaying.

But what if you don’t really care about the topic you’re writing on? Like an essay on the importance of recycling when you just don’t give two hoots about environmental conservation? If that’s the case, then I’d advise that you either pick another topic, or failing that, apply empathy and consider how it could at all relate to your own life.

For instance, how would you feel if one day, landfills overpopulate to the point they make themselves neighbours of your home?

If you’re more of a visual person, perhaps you could look up images related to whatever topic you’re writing about, which is also a good way to stimulate both emotion and thought.

In any case, writing sans feelings will always fall flat and fail to engage. So, next time you write something, ask yourself these questions before you start:

• What are your feelings towards what you’re writing about?
• How do you expect your readers to feel after reading what you’ve written?

3) How to write with sharp observation

What does it mean to ‘observe’?

Most of us may think of seeing when we hear this word, but ‘observation’ actually goes way beyond the faculty of sight. It also requires attentive listening and active reflection.

After all, the entirety of a person isn’t just limited to her appearance, mannerisms and actions – speech also plays a huge part in telling us about someone’s values, personality, socio-economic and cultural background.

It’s also not enough to just ‘see’ and ‘hear’, for our observations wouldn’t be meaningful if we didn’t then process and reflect on whatever it is we saw and heard from others.

For example, what does it mean when we see a woman decked out in Hermes and Gucci cap-a-pie shopping at the bargain aisle of the supermarket?

What do we know from noticing that someone speaks unidiomatically, but has an affected, posh accent?

And what do we know from seeing a wife flinch from the touch of her husband, despite being all smiles and looking like the perfectly contented half of a poster married couple?

To be a good writer, then, you must also be a good observer of people, which would require you to be interested in people in the first place. 

This is why journalists tend to be good writers; their entire livelihood depends on paying attention to people.

The curious ones work at broadsheets and the nosy ones work at tabloids, but either way, newspapers are basically human observatories.

So, if you want to develop sharper observation skills, start behaving like a journalist: notice the way people walk, talk, react, interact, and ask yourself – 

• Why does he/she do what they do, or say what they say? What’s the agenda behind it? What’s the emotion?
• If I could interview the person I’m observing, what would I ask him/her?
• Where have I seen this kind of behaviour or situation before? What was the context back then? Is it similar or different from the one I’m looking at now?
• Why is the person and/or situation I’m observing relevant to my audience? 

You will see, then, that much of great writing happens beyond the page, if not before the stage when the pen touches the paper. It requires strong purpose, emotional investment, human interest – and a lot of self-reflection. 

It is also only after we’ve established the presence of these elements in our writing that we should think about what words to use, and if there is a need to use any ‘big words’. 

To clarify, I am not anti-big words. Far from it, in fact. As a self-professed logophile, I consider my occasional tendency to use niche vocabulary a weakness, but it’s a weakness I’m very much willing to indulge.

I enjoy the freedom of being able to use the word “nomenclature” rather than “terms” when I want to, and it excites me to come across lexical strangeness in the form of words like “nudiustertian” and “terpsichorean” (not to mention the quasi-eponymous “jentacular”).

But does the inclusion of ‘big words’ in an essay make for great writing? No. Absolutely not. 

Strong purpose, emotional investment, and human interest through self-reflection – that’s what it’s all about.

I know I’ve already said that, but it’s important enough to warrant repeating. How do you make your writing ‘sound smart’?

Which of the elements do you find most important?

Comment below and let me know your thoughts! I’d love to hear from you. 

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3 thoughts on “ 3 tips to sound smart in writing (and 1 thing to avoid) ”

Wow, this was a super comprehensive list. I love tip #3, and I occasionally go to the local coffeeshop to people-watch just for this exercise. I try and guess where they’re from, what they’re thinking, and how their day has been.

I enjoyed this article. Thanks for writing!

Like Liked by 1 person

Thanks for reading, Stuart! Yes, people-watching is one of my favourite pre-writing activities, too… 🙂

learn a lot from this post !! I wish I can be a good observer !!:D sometimes I pretend to listen to music, but in fact, I am listening to others’ conversations…((But I swear I am a nice and no-harm person HAHAAAA, not a weirdo:))!)

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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Writing Tips / How to Make an Essay Longer the Smart Way

How to Make an Essay Longer the Smart Way

Meeting an essay’s required page or word count can sometimes be a struggle, especially if you’re juggling multiple papers or exams. In a pinch, students often rely on tricks like increasing margin size or making their font slightly bigger. Though these tricks do increase page length, there are easier (and smarter) ways to write a longer, high-quality essay. Making a paper meet minimum word or page counts doesn’t have to be an agonizing process—you can add length while also adding clarity and depth.

Here are 10 tips on how you can write a longer and a smarter essay, even if the deadline is fast approaching:

Tip #1: Look Back at Your Prompt/Rubric/etc.

If you’ve been provided a comprehensive prompt or rubric for an essay, read it, and read it again. Think about the following:

• Did you answer all of the questions in the prompt?
• Did you provide supporting evidence to back up whatever claims you made?
• Did you leave out any information that might increase the reader’s understanding of your argument?
• Did you meet all requirements (besides length) for the paper?

If the answer isn’t a decisive “yes” to every question on this list, go back and revise.

Tip #2: Go Back Through Your Introduction and Conclusion

Often times, ideas evolve while writing a paper. If the first thing you wrote was the introduction, go back and reread the first paragraph. You might decide that you left out key information that aids the reader in understanding your argument. When looking back on the conclusion, make sure you’ve both summarized the main points within the essay and provided your reader with a solution to consider. If you don’t feel you’ve done this, go back through and revise the paper.

Tip #3: Have Someone Proofread Your Essay

Even if you’re short on time ask a friend, sibling, or parent to read through your paper, specifically noting any points they find confusing. Then, go back and revise the parts that were unclear, adding in more information to provide readers with further clarity. You have a more comprehensive understanding of what you’re writing about than your reader, so having someone else look over your paper can be a helpful way to ensure that you haven’t missed any important details.

Tip #4: Use Quotations

Chances are, you have already used quotes in your paper. Quotations are a great way to enhance your argument while also driving up a paper’s word count, but don’t add quotes just for the sake of doing so. If you’re short on words, read through your source materials again to see if you’ve missed any valuable quotes. You can also do a little more research to see if there are any other sources you can add to provide the reader with more evidence toward your argument. Longer quotes aren’t necessarily better, but if you’re really in a bind, you might want to lengthen some of the quotes that are already included.

Tip #5: Review Your Outline

Did you make an outline to plan the essay when you first started? Go back through that initial outline and make sure you’ve hit all of your intended points. It’s possible that you’ve left out an important piece of your argument that would both increase page count and make for a better essay.

Tip #6: Include More Transitional Phrases

Graders often look for traditional words linking sentences to each other, like “therefore,” “even though”, and “on the other hand.” Read through your essay and make sure the sentences flow smoothly into each other. If they don’t, go back and add in transitional phrases like the ones listed above. Your writing will be easier to read, and you’ll get closer to the minimum page requirement in the process.

Tip #7: Read Your Paper Out Loud

This might sound like a silly tip, but when you read your paper out loud, you become increasingly aware of any grammatical or syntactical issues. When you rephrase sentences to fix these, you might end up increasing the paper length a bit. In the process of reading out loud, you also might realize that you didn’t include sufficient details within a particular paragraph. If that’s the case, go back in and add more to increase length.

Tip #8: Take a Break From Your Essay

You’ve probably been staring at your computer screen for hours, hoping words will magically pop into your head. Take a break. Eat a snack, go for a walk, or talk to a friend on the phone. You’ll come back to the essay with a fresh perspective after some time away, and you might have new ideas after you’ve had time away from your paper.

Tip #9: Ask Your Instructor for Help

Most teachers, teaching assistants, and professors are willing to look over papers for students before the final submission date. If there is still time, ask if you can make an appointment to go over your paper or head over to office hours. Your instructor might offer tips on how to better answer the prompt, and this in turn may also increase the word count of the paper.

Tip #10: Use multiple examples to back up your argument

If you’ve only used one source or anecdote to explain a given point, find a second source to provide additional evidence for the reader. This method will help drive up a paper’s word count while also providing further support for your argument.

Although hitting a minimum page count can sometimes be challenging, you can do it the smart way by increasing the information you provide to the reader—there’s no reason to resort to tricks like increasing line spacing or font size. If you’re really in a bind at the last minute, you might want to break up some of your paragraphs. This increases length while also making text more manageable for a reader. But after going through the tips on this list, your paper should be adequate in length without you having to even consider spacing.

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127 big fancy words to sound smart and boost your eloquence

Karolina Assi

Everyone wants to sound smart and come across as someone that can express their thoughts eloquently. And even though you might have this fantastic ability in your native language, you may feel limited doing this in English if you’re beginning your journey in expanding your vocabulary with unusual or rarer words.

Fortunately, the English language has thousands of big words that will make you sound instantly more eloquent and knowledgeable.

These words will help you express yourself in a more elegant way by substituting the basic, everyday words with their more fancy synonyms. Learning those “big” words in English is also a great way to impress those around you - whether it’s at school, at work, or during your next date.

To help you take your English vocabulary to the next level, we’re prepared a list of 120+ big words to sound smart, with their meaning and an example of how to use them in context.

The do’s and don'ts of using big words in English

Throwing in a few fancy words into your conversations or monologue is a good idea to sound more eloquent and impress everyone around you.

It’s also a great way to sound smart when you don’t know what to say on a specific topic but want to make a good impression and appear more knowledgeable than you are (like this English student during his literature class ).

But there’s a fine line between using fancy words that truly make you sound eloquent and those that make you sound like you’re trying too hard.

Sometimes, using big words to sound smart may backfire, especially if you don’t really know what they mean. Then, you may end up saying something that makes no sense and leaving everyone in the room perplexed. Plus, using complex words you don’t understand can make you sound pompous - so tread the line between careful and carefree.

Use them only if you truly understand their meaning and know what context to use them in. But don’t use them mindlessly as it will result in an opposite effect to what you intended.

Aside from learning those fancy words and their meaning, another challenge lies in their pronunciation. If you choose those big words that are also hard to pronounce , like “epitome” or “niche,” you might end up saying something that makes everyone laugh (it wouldn’t be such a bad scenario!).

The point is: if you’re going to use fancy words to sound smart, learn their meaning, understand how to use them in context, and practice their pronunciation first.

Big words to sound smart and their meaning

The smartest way of sounding more eloquent when expressing yourself in English is to change basic, everyday words for their fancier versions. For instance, instead of saying “very big,” say “massive.” Instead of saying “detailed.” say “granular,” and instead of saying “not interesting,” say “banal.”

See? Using the word “granular” in a sentence will inevitably add more elegance to your speech and make you appear more fluent and eloquent.

The words we’ve chosen to include in the tables below follow this exact principle. Most of them are just a fancier version of a basic, simple word you’d normally use. Others are words used in a professional or academic setting that simply add more articulacy to your statement.

Fancy words you can use at work

The question isn’t whether you should learn a couple of fancy words you can use at work to impress your boss and coworkers. The question is, how do you use them without coming across as a pompous know-it-all, irritating everyone around you?

Well, it’s all about using them wisely. Don’t cram 10 fancy words into a simple sentence just to sound smarter. Only use them when they help you get your message across. If they don’t bring any value to your sentence, simply don’t use them.

In other words - don’t force it! Be natural.

With that said, here are some big words you can use at work.

Ready to further your career with a new language?

Get the language skills, cultural understanding and confidence to open up your world with Berlitz.

Clever words you might use academically

The academic setting does not only encourage you to sound smart. It forces you to. To get higher grades and convince your professors of your knowledge and eloquence, you need to elevate your vocabulary.

Whether it’s in written or spoken assignments, these words will help you express yourself in a more intelligent and elegant way while impressing your colleagues and professors.

Big interesting words you might use socially

Being the smartest person among your friends is surely a great boost for your ego. It can help you gain their approval, receive compliments, and maybe even get a date or two while hanging out at the bar with your friends.

But the other side of the coin is that using overly sophisticated words in a casual, social setting can make you appear pretentious and out of place. That’s why you need to be careful and not overdo it! If you do, you might only end up humiliating yourself, and that’s a terrible place to be in.

Here are 20+ big words in English you can use in social situations with their meaning and an example of a sentence you could say.

Impressive words you might use romantically

Even if you’re not a very romantic person, some occasions require a bit of romanticism. Using elegant words in your expressions of love and affection can make your romantic conversations and gestures more special and memorable.

Still, don’t use big words if you don’t mean them! You should always be sincere and genuine in your expressions. Remember that words hold tremendous power in inspiring emotions in those who receive them.

With that said, here are 30 big words you can use in a romantic setting to express your love and affection for your significant other or to take your relationship with the person you’re currently dating to the next level (congrats!).

Sophisticated words you might use when discussing art and literature

Are you an art or literature? These two areas often require eloquent vocabulary to describe them. At least, that is the sort of language that people expect to hear from someone who’s an avid reader and art connoisseur.

You might want to express how the allegory in that poem made you feel or the way the plot of the book has enthralled you to keep reading but lack the right words to do it. If so, here’s a list of 20+ words you can use to talk about art and literature in different contexts.

Fancy words you might use when talking about your hobbies

When talking about our hobbies, we want to come across as more knowledgeable than others. After all, they’re our special interests, and we naturally possess a greater deal of expertise in these areas.

Whether you’re into literature, movies, or sports, here are some fancy words you can use to describe your interests.

Make the Thesaurus your new best friend

In this article, we’ve only covered 126 big words. Understandably, we can’t include all the fancy words you might need in one article. There are simply too many!

But luckily, there’s a free online tool you can use to find the synonyms of everyday words to expand your vocabulary and make yourself sound smarter.

Can you take a guess?

That’s right - it’s the online Thesaurus . You’ve surely heard about it from your English teacher, but in case you haven’t, Thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms and related concepts. It’s a great way to find synonyms of different words to spice up your oral or written statements and avoid repeating the same old boring words time and time again.

Choose your words wisely

Whether you’re using simple, everyday words in casual conversations or those big, fancy words in a professional or academic environment, remember one thing: words have power.

They’re spells that you cast (there’s a reason why it’s called “spelling”) onto yourself and those who you speak them to. The words you speak inspire emotions and shape how other people perceive you. But they also influence your own emotions and shape how you perceive yourself.

So choose them wisely.

Learn more about the fascinating English language on our English language blog here.

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How to Sound Smart

Last Updated: February 2, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Leah Morris and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Leah Morris is a Life and Relationship Transition coach and the owner of Life Remade, a holistic personal coaching service. With over three years as a professional coach, she specializes in guiding people as they move through both short-term and long-term life transitions. Leah holds a BA in Organizational Communication from California State University, Chico and is a certified Transformational Life Coach through the Southwest Institute for Healing Arts. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 107,408 times.

You don’t need word of the day toilet paper or a huge vocabulary to sound smart. Instead, focus on presenting your ideas in a clear, coherent way. With a few new habits, you can impress your friends, outshine your fellow students, or make waves at work.

Choosing Your Words Carefully

• It’s okay to say something like, “If we don’t work together to reverse climate change, our world is headed for catastrophe.” You don’t need to say, “Without cooperative interaction between persons from all cultures, our world will experience a colossal loss never before seen.”
• Don't use unnecessary big words or a thesaurus. When you use complicated language for no reason, people usually assume that you want to sound smarter than you are. [2] X Research source For example, it’s okay to say, “We had tremendous growth this quarter,” but you might not say, “We experienced prodigious augmentation this quarter.”

• For instance, say, “I made dinner,” not “Dinner is made.” Similarly, say, “Research shows that students who read get better grades,” rather than, “It’s shown by research that students who read get better grades.”

• Try asking people you trust, like your best friend and family members, to call you out when you use a filler word. For instance, they might interrupt you and say, “Like!” everytime you say “like.”
• Film yourself speaking so you can catch how often you use the words.

• For example, let’s say you’re talking about politics with a friend. You’ll sound really smart if you share a position that’s relevant to the conversation, along with a couple of supporting facts. On the other hand, people will tune you out if you dominate the conversation with side topics and attacks on other positions.
• You might say, “I’m voting for Keely Pierce for mayor because she wants to revitalize downtown. Infrastructure repairs and free metro trips to downtown will attract more foot traffic, as well as new businesses. This will be good for the entire city.” Then, let other people share their thoughts.

• If you're not sure if grammar is a skill you need to improve, ask a few trusted friends for their honest opinion. You might also talk to a trusted teacher or coworker.

Making Good Arguments

• Try to learn background information, what’s currently happening, and concerns for the future.
• If you don't have time to read a lot of information about the topic, review a few articles and focus on the key points. If the topic is a book, you might read an overview or study guide for the book.
• At school, you might encounter topics like a novel or historical events. In current events, you might see topics like the spread of a pandemic or political issues. At work, this might include something like market trends or increasing sales in a recession.

• Let’s say you’re hanging out with friends and they start talking about a book you haven’t read. You might say something like, “That makes me think of Brave New World ! Have you read that?”
• If you can't change the subject, pull facts about other topics into the discussion. If the other person says something like, "The symbolism in this book is so powerful," you might reply, "I enjoyed the symbolism in The Great Gatsby ."

• Say something like, “Our community needs park benches because they encourage people to use the park and they provide parents a comfortable place to sit while watching their children play.” Don’t bring up other problems with the park or attack people who don’t want benches.
• Memorizing a few facts or key points about your topic will help you sound more knowledgeable. You might even learn the names of a few key experts to lend your argument some support. You could say, "According to Michelle Steinberg, the director of the National Fire Prevention Agency’s (NFPA) Wildfire Division, houses and other manmade structures can be more flammable than vegetation in some cases."

• It might help to paraphrase what the person said back to them to give you more time to decide what to say. This might sound something like, “It sounds like you don’t support the downtown revitalization because you’re worried about rent going up,” or “So you’re saying libraries need longer hours?”
• You can also pick up on a few key facts about the topic while you're listening to the other person's ideas. This can be a big help if you don't know a lot about the topic.

• Let’s say your literature class is discussing the novel Animal Farm , and another student starts talking about how it’s a fable about the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. Go ahead and ask questions like, “What’s the Bolshevik revolution?” or “Why is this a fable?”
• Similarly, one of your friends might say something like, “I can’t believe you buy clothes from that store after last month’s scandal.” Say, “I didn’t hear about the scandal. What happened?”
• If someone presses you to share an opinion about a topic you don't know a lot about, it's okay to say something like, "I need to do more research on this topic before I feel comfortable taking a stand," "I need to review the background information to be sure," or "I'm waiting for more evidence to come to light before I draw conclusions."

Using Body Language

• If eye contact is hard for you, practice by staring at yourself in the mirror. Then, get a friend or relative to help you practice staring into each other’s eyes. With practice, you can feel comfortable making eye contact.

• Be careful not to slump or look down, as this makes you look less confident.

• For a generic gesture, spread your arms out with your hands palm up. Bring them back in, then spread them out again.
• If you’re talking about something you don’t agree with, you might push your hands away from your body to show opposition.
• When you’re listing things, use your fingers to show “1,” “2,” “3,” etc.
• To hammer home a point, turn 1 hand into a fist and then bring it down onto the palm of your other hand.

• If you notice yourself start fidgeting, place your hands in your pockets or at your sides for the time being. Even though gesturing is important, it’s better to be still if you’re having a problem with fidgeting.

Expert Q&A

• You don’t have to know everything to be smart. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
• If you're stuck talking about an unfamiliar topic, excuse yourself to the restroom for a few minutes and look up a few key facts. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3
• You don’t have to say a lot to sound smart. Focus on the quality of your statements rather than the quantity. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/sesquipedalian
• ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/style/ccs_activevoice/
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/10/the-science-of-sounding-smart
• ↑ https://missionself.com/art-of-silence-learning-when-not-to-speak
• ↑ https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/want-to-sound-smarter-master-these-grammar-tips
• ↑ https://www.navhindtimes.in/2019/03/02/opinions/opinion/importance-of-being-well-informed/
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiDb4Jdcg3A
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2013/08/18/13-simple-ways-you-can-have-more-meaningful-conversations/#7dc813454fe9
• ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eye_contact_dont_make_these_mistakes

About This Article

To sound smart, avoid using unnecessary filler words, like "um," "well," and "like," since they can make you appear uncertain. Also, try to use descriptive vocabulary, like "thrilling," "depressing," and "remarkable," instead of vague words like "good," and "cool." You should also avoid phrases like "I guess," "I'm not sure," or "maybe I'm wrong," since they undermine what you're saying. For tips on how to project confidence so you appear smarter, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Articles & Advice > College Admission > Blog

How to Sound Smart in Your Personal Statement

These three tips will help you sound smart in your college application essays—just as smart as you really are.

by Ethan Sawyer The College Essay Guy

Last Updated: Apr 14, 2023

Originally Posted: Jul 20, 2016

Let me start by stating: trying to sound like a rocket scientist should not be the primary goal of your personal statement. You want to sound like you—you just want colleges to see how smart you really are. Following these tips will simply help your intelligence shine through . College admission counselors will see it in the topic you chose, how you articulate your values, and the insights you draw from your experiences. So, without further ado, here are three ways to sound smart in your personal statement—just as smart as you really are.

Sound smart by asking great questions

Anyone can make a smart statement; it’s easy to regurgitate clever things we’ve read elsewhere. But smart questions ? Those are noteworthy. Consider the difference: 

• Smart statement: The amount of heat absorbed is also affected by how light or dark an object is. A dark object of a given color will absorb more photons than a light object of the same color, so it will absorb more heat and get warmer. I learned this from my second grade science project.
• Smart question: In second grade I enrolled in a summer science program and built a solar-powered oven that baked real cookies. I remember obsessing over the smallest details: Should I paint the oven black to absorb more heat? What about its shape? A spherical shape would allow for more volume, but would it trap heat as well as conventional rectangular ovens? Even then I was obsessed with the details of design.

The smart statement could have been copy-and-pasted out of a science textbook. The smart question (questions, really) shows the author’s curious mind and innovative thought process. If you’re mentally compiling a list of questions to tuck into your personal statement, you should also know: you don’t actually have to answer all the questions! Questions can be philosophical, metaphorical, or rhetorical. Here’s an example from an essay a student wrote about her grandfather’s life in North Korea:

In particular, I am interested in the North-South Korean tension. What irreconcilable differences have prompted a civilization to separate? Policy implications remain vague, and sovereignty theories have their limits—how do we determine what compromises are to be made? And on a personal level, why did my grandfather have to flee from his destroyed North Korean hometown—and why does it matter? Those questions are impossible to answer in a short personal statement, but they demonstrate that the author has thought long and hard about complex issues.

Related: Top College Essay Tips From Admission Insiders

Sound smart by using just the right amount of geeky language

Did you notice that I didn’t say “stuff your personal statement with polysyllabic SAT words”? Using the correct real-world terms for any concepts you’re trying to explain shows that you understand the inner workings of the topic. But using big words for the sake of big words shows little more than the fact that you know how to go onto Thesaurus.com (harsh but true).

• Too much geeky language: The first project that I was involved with investigated the extraintestinal manifestations of IBD. Patients who suffer from IBD often have diseases called extraintestinal manifestations that also affect multiple other organ systems and can be just as, if not more, debilitating than the intestinal inflammation itself. My contribution involved examining data in Dr. Shih's clinical database, which led me to discover that the skin is one of the most commonly affected organ systems in patients who suffer from IBD.
• Just enough geeky language: Through switch-side policy debate, I not only discussed competing ideas but also argued both sides of widely disputed issues. By introducing me to Protagoras’ antilogic and Dissoi Logoi , switch-side policy debate has provided me with a forum to cultivate diverse perspectives that have informed my own intellectual growth.

That first example...yowza. It’s not poorly written, but it’s basically an excerpt from a research paper. An admission counselor reading this passage in a personal statement might wonder why the student included so much (academic) detail. If you’re not sure if you’ve used too much geeky language, ask someone who is somewhat familiar with the topic to read your essay. Do they understand it? Does it make sense in the context of your essay? Yes on both counts? Great.

If you’ve over-geeked, add a clarifying sentence in “plain English” to the end of the paragraph. Like this: I’m the math geek who marvels at the fundamental theorems of Calculus and who sees beauty in A=(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c))^(1/2). For me, it’s all in the details: one bracket off or one digit missing and the whole equation collapses. And details are more than details; they can mean the difference between negative and positive infinity, an impossible range of solutions.  Even someone who doesn’t speak math can appreciate the comment that beauty lies in the intricacies of Calculus .

Sound smart by showing and telling

Every English teacher you’ve ever had has probably told you to “show, don’t tell.” And while that’s great advice, I’d argue that in personal statements, you want to show and tell. You paint a beautiful picture for the admission counselor…and then you share insightful thoughts about that picture. Sounds pretty smart, right? When you’re writing your personal statement, put yourself in the role of both painter and art critic. A painter is in charge of creating the beautiful images; an art critic is in charge of saying smart stuff about the images. In your personal essay, you do both. The “show” demonstrates you’re a talented writer—that you’re ready to write at the college level. The “tell” demonstrates you’re a critical thinker—that you’re ready to think at the college level. Here’s a favorite example of mine:

Many nights you’ll find me in the garage replacing standard chrome trim with an elegant piano black finish or changing the threads on the stitching of the seats to add a personal touch, as I believe a few small changes can transform a generic product into a personalized work of art. When you’re writing, make sure you put your “show” before your ‘tell.” Here’s why: it creates an interesting puzzle in the reader’s mind: What do these images mean? What will they add up to? You engage the reader’s imagination; you grab their attention. Then, once you deliver your interpretation, you can wow your reader by surprising them with something they wouldn’t have thought of (*cough* make sure it’s something the reader wouldn’t have thought of *cough*). Choose images and examples you can provide insight on. If the image-to-insight connection is too obvious, simply choose a different image! You’re the painter. You can do that. Aim to include three to five insights in your application essay. More insights = more smart.

Related: What NOT to Do in Your College Application Essay

Want even more help with your personal statement? Insights into the application process? Find more advice by visiting our Application Essay Clinic !

The above is adapted from Ethan Sawyer's book,  College Essay Essentials . Learn more at CollegeEssayGuy.com .

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About Ethan Sawyer

Ethan Sawyer, "The College Essay Guy," has been helping students tell their stories for more than 10 years and is the author of the forthcoming College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admission Essay . He has reached thousands of students and counselors through his webinars and workshops and has become a nationally recognized college essay expert and sought-after speaker. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and received an MFA from UC–Irvine.

Ethan was raised as a missionary kid in Spain, Ecuador, and Colombia and studied at 17 different schools. He’s worked as a teacher, curriculum writer, voice actor, grant writer, theater director, motivational speaker, community organizer, and truck driver (true story). He is also a certified Myers-Briggs® specialist.

He is an active member of the Western Association of College Admissions Counselors (WACAC) and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC). He lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles. For more information, visit CollegeEssayGuy.com .

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15 Witty Phrases You Can Use To Sound Smart In Conversations

Want to give a witty impression? You can easily do that by using these 15 smart-sounding phrases that you can use in everyday conversations. 

We all have that moment when we need a little bit of confidence boost to get our goals done. One of the commonly-used confidence boosts is by using smart words to revamp the listener’s good impression.

If words are not enough, you can use a handful of phrases that make you sound smart. Using witty phrases is an easy way to make you feel confident in your speaking skills. 

A listener’s initial impression is affected by communication barriers.

These barriers include having a heavy accent or the use of unnecessary jargon in a conversation.

Although these phrases can give you a little bit of confidence, there is no substitute for gaining confidence from practicing your language.

To learn new terms and train other language skills, JustLearn is an excellent place to start. 

Without further ado, here are 15 witty phrases that you can use in daily conversations. 

15 Phrases That Make You Sound Smart 

Did you know that having confidence can help you succeed in business even without a degree?

According to the Harvard Business Review , the best way to become confident is to practice doing things you’re unsure of.

And one of those practices is to add more to your conversational language vocabulary and phrases.

1. “Let me elaborate further.”

The phrase “Let me elaborate further” is a fancier way to say: “let me explain.” Elaborate is the key detail used in this phrase. When you need to explain something in a very detailed manner, you can use this phrase to sound smart. Here, let me elaborate further by giving an example.

Marie: Hey, can you explain the solution to this math problem? 

Cynthia: Sure. Let me take a look.

Marie: I can’t understand why the answer is y = 8.

Cynthia: That’s because you need to multiply this part to get the answer.  Let me elaborate further. 

2. “It’s a conundrum.”

“Conundrum” is a word used to describe a complicated problem that has a very tricky solution. You can use “conundrum” when you have a head-scratcher question that often confuses people. Here’s how you can use “conundrum” in a conversation. 

Marie: So that’s how you get the answer! I wouldn’t have figured it out by myself. 

Cynthia: Yeah, it’s a total conundrum. 

3. “To put it simply...” 

This phrase is a better and smarter way to say, “basically.” Use this phrase if you want to explain something clearly and simply. It’s a great way to emphasize that you don’t want to elaborate further on a given subject matter. You can also use this phrase as a way to clarify something. 

To put it simply, here are some examples.

It’s a long story. But to put it simply, Marco’s design lost due to accusations of plagiarism. 

A lot of rallying and protests are happening all at once. To put it simply, everything is a mess in the town hall. 

4. “... a cookie-cutter approach.” 

When you describe a method or approach as “cookie-cutter,” it means it's a standard one that people use all the time. The doer of the approach does not account for specific differences that might occur from user to user. As long as it works, it should work for everyone, just like how the cookie-cutter tool works. The size of the cookies made by a cookie-cutter usually fits for every eater. 

TV and radio advertising is not as popular now as they were before. This change is due to the method being considered as a cookie-cutter approach by consumers nowadays. 

A t-shirt produced by a cookie-cutter approach in a factory is cheaper, but tailored shirts are more comfortable to wear. 

5. “Touche.”

The word “touche” can be used as a whole sentence. It is an expression used to acknowledge a good point from another person during a debate. “Touche” can also be used to praise a witty retort. To put it simply, it is a fancy way to say, “That’s a clever point.” 

“Touche” was all Mr. Hanma could say after Baki came up with a remarkable comeback to the debate. 

Discussions are not fights that you need to win. It is a way to seek knowledge from other people’s experiences. It's only fair to say “touche” to a well-crafted argument. 

6. “...not a priority for me at this time.” 

Saying “no” can be intimidating, as most people view this act as being rude.

Fortunately, there are smart ways to decline something if you’re not interested. One of the best ways to do so is by using the phrase, “It’s not a  priority for me at this time.” It is a better option other than saying, “I don’t want that,” “I’m not interested,” or just plainly saying “no.” 

Patrick: Hey, Bob! Do you want to go skydiving this Sunday? 

Bob: Hello, Patrick. Sorry, skydiving is not a priority for me at this time. Maybe next month, when things slow down at work. 

7. “...one of his/her idiosyncrasies.” 

“Idiosyncrasy” means a habit or behavior that relates to a specific person or a place. It happens when you see a certain characteristic that reminds you of a particular spot or a person you know. This word is commonly used to describe a very distinctive or peculiar behavior.

Margaret is dipping her fries in ice cream. That’s just one of her idiosyncrasies that I don’t understand. 

Nutella Pizza? You wouldn’t believe me if I tell you that’s just one of his idiosyncrasies when it comes to food. 

8. “...reassess the situation.” 

When the phrase “reassess the situation” is used in a sentence, it means re-evaluating a judgment regarding a specific scenario. By doing so, you or your team might come up with a new solution to your predicament.

You will also sound smart by giving a good suggestion and a badass line. 

Marketing has a big conundrum with some advertisement policies at the moment. Let’s reassess the situation to find a solution to this problem. 

Can we reassess the situation first? We’re going in full circle for about an hour now. 

9. “This matter needs imperative attention.” 

Sometimes, using the word “ASAP” or the phrase “As soon as possible” is not that thrilling. Maybe because the term is overused, or maybe you want a little bit of smart-sounding words to add to your emails or speech.

In that case, you can use “This matter needs imperative attention.” The meaning is similar to ASAP, but there are more urgency and smartness on the phrase. 

I need this report on Monday. This matter needs imperative attention.

Social media sites tend to make you forget about matters that need imperative attention. Maybe it’s a good idea to take a break from it once in a while. 

10. “On the contrary...”

The phrase “on the contrary” means the exact opposite of a thing (whether a material thing or an idea).

Some speakers use this phrase to signify opposition in some form of thought. It can also pertain to a situation that can happen instead of an anticipated scenario. 

We all thought the Hawks would win the game. On the contrary, they lost because of miscalculated moves. 

It’s not that I don’t like KPop songs. On the contrary, I love listening to Black Pink and Super Junior. But sometimes, you’re overdoing your fanfare a little bit. 

11. “What’s your insight about this?” 

When trying to get somebody’s opinion about something, people often use “What do you think?” Although this question does the trick, it gets old after a while.

Take note: changing some wordings can sometimes get a better reaction from people being asked. You can use “what’s your insight about this?” instead of asking the same question over and over again. 

The office management plans to implement the bring-your-own-coffee policy. What’s your insight about this change? 

We’re getting the data any time soon. I want to hear your insight into the result. 

12. “... a body of work.” 

“A body of work” refers to all the creations made by a particular writer or an artist. For example, The Beatles’ full discography can be considered their body of work. It can also refer to the final result of research (majorly for academic research, but not always). 

Most usage comes from an academic or creative community. 

The Mona Lisa painting is still the most recognizable among Leonardi da Vinci’s body of work. 

After years of gruesome work, the research about Artificial Intelligence is finally complete. Interested individuals can check the body of work on the researchers’ website. 

13. “The plan of action for today is...” 

“The plan of action for today is” simply means the organized work to do on a given day. This phrase is useful in two situations: 

• If you’re relaying important plans and information to your team
• If someone asked you what’s your plan for today. 

You can use it for casual talks or when working with a team on daily projects. 

Okay, team, the plan of action for today is getting more information about competing products and potential partners. 

Hey! How are you doing? What’s your plan of action for today? 

14. “ ...think laterally / lateral thinking”

Lateral thinking, or to “think laterally” means to tackle a problem with an ingenious idea. It is the way of thinking where you’re searching for a solution that is not very obvious or original, yet very effective in handling a situation. 

Larry’s educational background might not be high, but his lateral thinking makes him a valuable asset in the company. 

One of the best feelings in the world is when you solve a challenging problem by thinking laterally. 

In these hard times, you need to think laterally to get additional income. 

15. “All things considered”

“All things considered” is a more formal-sounding way of saying “all the things have been thought of”. You can use this phrase to tell someone that all-important points (both good or bad) have been taken into account. 

All things considered, the TV adaptation is not that bad compared to the movie ones which was released a few years ago. 

The result was not on par with the standard. But all things considered, it’s the best thing we can do right now. 

Final Thoughts 

Whether you’re practicing conversational English or polishing your professional speaking skills, it’s crucial to learn something new daily.

I hope you will find use with these witty phrases on the list.

What phrases can you use to sound smart in conversations?

Let me elaborate further, It’s a conundrum, To put it simply, a cookie-cutter approach, Touche, not a priority for me at this time, one of his/her idiosyncrasies, reassess the situation, This matter needs imperative attention, On the contrary, What’s your insight about this, a body of work, The plan of action for today is, think laterally / lateral thinking, All things considered

How to use the phrase Let me elaborate further?

The phrase “Let me elaborate further” is a fancier way to say: “let me explain.” Elaborate is the key detail used in this phrase. When you need to explain something in a very detailed manner, you can use this phrase to sound smart. Here, let me elaborate further by giving an example. Example: Marie: Hey, can you explain the solution to this math problem? Cynthia: Sure. Let me take a look. Marie: I can’t understand why the answer is y = 8. Cynthia: That’s because you need to multiply this part to get the answer. Let me elaborate further.

What does Touche mean?

The word “touche” can be used as a whole sentence. It is an expression used to acknowledge a good point from another person during a debate. “Touche” can also be used to praise a witty retort. To put it simply, it is a fancy way to say, “That’s a clever point.” Example: “Touche” was all Mr. Hanma can say after Baki came up with a remarkable comeback to the debate. Discussions are not fights that you need to win. It is a way to seek knowledge from other people’s experiences. Its only fair to say “touche” to a well-crafted argument.

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