Why do you say “that’s weird,” when you could say “that’s weird”? Maybe it’s because you’re trying to look too smart. A study conducted by education platform Preply, found that almost three out of five people use complex vocabulary to appear smart. Generally, it is to make a good impression. The survey found that seven out of ten said they used complex vocabulary to impress someone in a professional environment, often their superiors and colleagues.
It seems to be working. More than three-quarters of respondents believed that using big words or complex words made a person appear smarter. But 58% of people in the survey admitted they used the word to sound clever, even though they didn’t know what it meant.
“Big words only work if you know how to use them,” says creativity and leadership consultant Val Wright, author of the book. Words That Work, Convey Your Purpose, Your Profits, and Your Performance. “If 58% of people use words they don’t understand, how many of them get confusing messages?”
In a Preply study, 43 percent of people thought that someone who used complex vocabulary was trying to sound smarter than they really were. And more than half of the people in the survey said they tried to stop the conversation because of it. Complex language tests the other person’s patience when they don’t know what you mean.
The point of any communication should be understood. So while using big words may make you seem smart, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you risk being misunderstood and making a bad impression.
Here’s how to get started using the most difficult words correctly, as well as delving into the most commonly used “big” words to get you started.
The right way to use big words is to sound smart
In the boardroom, during promotion decisions, in investment rounds—this is where your vocabulary matters most at work, and you see the results of the language you use. Wright shares a few ways you can use complex words to get the right reaction from those around you:
- Know that bigger is not better. Words do not need many letters to be considered large or complex. Although it is limited to five letter words, “Wordle has divided millions, because of the obscure words that many complain about that they have never heard of,” says Wright.
- Understand what you are saying. Don’t start throwing out words that you aren’t sure you want to impress. Being understood is more important than sounding smart. Grow your vocabulary by learning new words over time, don’t just memorize words that you think will impress.
- Make your words relevant to the situation. “Compare your branding style to your company and the customers you serve,” says Wright. For example, a fashion retailer targeting youth may have a different communication style than an aircraft manufacturer.
- Avoid jargon for jargon’s sake. “Business buzzword bingo has long been a game in boardrooms all over the world, because the exact words you use can cause your colleagues to agree with you or glare at you when you’re not looking,” says Wright.
How to increase your vocabulary
Here are some tips to increase your vocabulary over time:
Be Curious.
When you come across a new word, be curious about it. Read the description and challenge yourself to use it three times during the week. Wright says Vocabulary.com has great resources for checking words that will work and provides usage examples from different sources.
And don’t just do this with words you hear at work or social events. You can meet new words all the time in your life through conversations, entertainment, eating, and any situations.
Learn.
It’s probably no surprise that one of the best ways to meet new words is through reading. But in an article about expanding your vocabulary for the Fast Company, Michael Grothaus points out that you don’t need to limit yourself to classics or “high” writing. “Although the Bard is one of the greatest lexicographers in the history of the English language, you don’t need to read his complete works to improve your vocabulary…All that matters is that you read–and doing so will automatically increase your vocabulary.” In addition to exposing you to new words, reading can also expose you to new uses of words you already know.
Play word games.
In addition to popular games like Wordle or Words With Friends, there are many other games and apps that will help you increase your vocabulary naturally over time. The New York Times also has a Spelling Bee, and many papers have a daily crossword. The App Store has an entire section dedicated to word games. Or you could try a “Word of the Day” app that will help you keep your goal of learning one new word a day.
Write it down.
You don’t really get a chance to use choice words when you’re talking day-to-day, but writing gives you a chance to slow down. Organize your written work and challenge yourself to move away from clichés and use sharp words without losing your meaning.
You can do the same with notes made before a meeting or presentation. “When I prepare managers for their speaking engagements, I encourage them to prepare certain phrases to use that will cause their audience to pause and think,” said Wright.
20 Words That Make You Sound Smart
In Preply’s study, participants were asked which words make a person sound smart. Here are the top two, along with their definition (from Merriam-Webster) and how to use them.
Bad
An adjective
- Explanation: you are down or sad beyond measure; very bad or bad
- Example: The condition of the baseball field was grim because of the storms the day before.
To praise
A noun
- Explanation: a sign of approval or words of praise
- Example: He has won many awards for his marketing work throughout his career.
Adept
An adjective
- Explanation: completely competent; an expert
- Example: I’m an expert at juggling multiple projects at once and making sure each one gets the time and attention it deserves.
That’s enough
An adjective
- Explanation: enough
- Example: The number of survey results we received was sufficient, except for the short response time of the respondents.
To be praised
- Explanation: egreat or excessive praise or flattery
- Example: The band was often praised by fans, but the warm reception from critics was unexpected.
Beauty
An adjective
- Explanation: relating to appearance; art
- Example: Despite the aesthetic changes to the app, the updated version was still riddled with bugs.
A noun
- Explanation: a particular theory or conception of beauty, art, or appearance
- Example: The farm-to-table restaurant completes its theme with rustic elegance
Inexplicable
An adjective
- Description: which can be understood in more than one way
- Example: When he was invited to a work party, he gave an ambiguous answer.
Which is confusing
- Explanation: something unusual, unusual, or easily distinguishable; a deviation from the general rule
- Example: Heterochromia is an anomaly in which a person or animal has two eyes of different colors.
Be specific
- Explanation: to put into words; to give meaning to
- Example: He often had trouble explaining his thoughts on the spot in meetings with his boss, so he started taking notes early on.
Note that “voice” can also be used as an adjective to describe someone who speaks well. However, this usage often has racial connotations and is best avoided.
Brevity
A noun
- Explanation: shortness of length or length of time
- Example: The speech lasted only ten minutes and we all appreciated his brevity.
Candor
A noun
- Explanation: unreserved honesty or frankness, frankness
- Example: They appreciated his integrity when it helped to run meetings more efficiently, but they could live without it when it came to non-professional topics.
A Caveat
A noun
- Explanation: additional or corrective details to be considered
- Example: He approved his travel time with the caveat that he complete the report before he left.
Increase
Action
- Explanation: making it more difficult
- Example: The forced, unpaid overtime was exacerbated by the fact that management had to replace a broken coffee machine.
Fastidious
An adjective
- Explanation: carefully, extremely or extremely carefully or detailed
- Example: His quick attention to detail helps him find bugs in code that many developers miss.
Juxtapose
Action
- Description: placing different or contrasting objects next to each other to compare or contrast them or create an interesting effect
- Example: The juxtaposition of the site’s serious subject matter with its bold and fun layout made reading a confusing experience.
A false name
A noun
- Explanation: inappropriate, inaccurate, or misleading wording
- Example: Starfish is a misnomer as they are neither stars nor fish.
Important
An adjective
- Explanation: typical of or representative of a certain type of person, situation, or thing
- Example: Friday the 13th a quintessential horror movie that showcases many of the genre’s classics.
The Repertoire
A noun
- Explanation: a list of skills, abilities, methods, or knowledge that a person, skill, or group possesses
- Example: As a former computer science major, Javascript was within his repertoire.
Rub it
Action
- Explanation: wavering in ideas or thoughts, hesitation in making decisions
- Example: Company management ignores their remote work policy.
Native languages
An adjective
- Explanation: the standard (frequently spoken) form of a particular language in an area or group of people as opposed to the official (usually written) version
- Example: Their vernacular writing appealed to a wider audience than the formal style they had been taught in school.
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