![]() Unfortunately, there are many people who wouldn’t know how to use a dictionary (if they even own one!) for anything more intellectually stimulating than squashing spiders. There are instances wherein only a particular word will suffice and nothing else will cut the muster. If you have to go get a dictionary to see what “pedantic” means, I have made my point! What the writer meant was “important.”Ī misused big word has the opposite effect of making you sound smart! A big word used correctly, but unnecessarily, has the effect of making you sound pedantic. Detrimental implies that some negative outcome would be associated with the person’s attendance at the meeting. Ironically, the misuse of the word implies the exact opposite of what the person meant. The memo said, “It is detrimental that I go to the meeting next week.” Lately I have noticed many people misusing the word “detrimental” when what they really mean is “instrumental” or “important.” For example, I read a memo that someone wrote requesting permission to attend a meeting. In order to communicate effectively, you have to use language properly, and you have to use language that people are likely to understand. If the person who reads your writing doesn’t understand what you are trying to say, no communication occurs when he or she reads your writing. ![]() Communication is the process by which meaning is created and exchanged. The purpose of writing is to communicate. The truth of the matter is that smart communicators use words that (a) they understand and (b) their readers are likely to understand. Many people think that they sound smarter when they use big words. ![]()
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