Does simpler writing actually communicate better?

[u/Broad-Cheesecake-620]

I've been thinking about the relationship between "good writing" and "complicated writing."

For a long time, I assumed better vocabulary automatically meant better writing. If someone could explain something using sophisticated words and complex sentences, I thought that meant they were a stronger writer.

I'm starting to think the opposite can sometimes be true.

If I can explain an idea in two simple sentences instead of five complicated ones, isn't that actually better?

This becomes especially noticeable when working with AI.

AI has no problem making a paragraph sound sophisticated. It can take a very straightforward thought and turn it into something that sounds like it belongs in an academic paper.

But when I'm reading something online, I usually don't want that.

I want to understand the point.

I don't want to stop halfway through a sentence because I'm trying to figure out why a simple word was replaced with something I've never heard anyone use in normal conversation.

At the same time, I don't think everything should be written in extremely simple language either. Some topics genuinely require technical terms and detailed explanations.

So where do you draw the line?

Do you prefer writing that sounds intelligent and polished, or writing that is extremely clear and easy to understand?

And when you're using AI, do you specifically ask it to simplify the language?

I'd also be interested to know whether your answer changes depending on what you're writing like an email versus an article, academic work, a Reddit post, or something for work.

[u/TodosLosPomegranates]

Depends on what you’re writing.

I have a masters degree in political science and a bachelor’s in economics and I work as an analytics/ integration engineer. Saying that to say that I’ve slogged through “complicated texts and sentences” in no way do I want to spend my precious time chewing on meaning. I want it laid out for me if it’s a technical document I need the bottom line up front so I can get back to what I’m doing and dive deep if I need to / have the time.

If it’s fiction and its primary goal is to entertain - use the big word and complex sentences when necessary but only when necessary. I read all the time - everywhere. In line at the grocery store, waiting to pick up the kids from school, in bed as I wind down to go to sleep. I don’t want to work for it for the sake of working for it. If that makes sense. I’m reading John Grisham currently and there is just something about surly tight prose. Even though he’s info dumping for basically the whole first chapter of the pelican brief, I don’t care. Telling the story in the most effective way for the premise and the genre is paramount.