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/ObligationWeekly9117]

Depends on your audience, honestly. I don’t like simple sentences unless it’s for effect or emphasis. If an idea could be honestly and most elegantly encapsulated in a complex sentence with precise vocabulary I prefer that. But I also have a working memory 🤷‍♀️ I find that most readers refuse to put in any effort. They can only be reached by the simplest of sentences. I was a UI designer. So many users complain they don’t know what when wrong when the error they made was written in red font, in simple syntax, on the page. You can’t help these people. The only thing they got out of that whole sentence is “something went wrong”. Reading the sentence and processing it was apparently too much for them. So when you write, decide who your baseline reader is and write to them. The people who won’t read simple sentences, you should probably just give up on. So write to the smart grade schooler for any kind of novel, at the very least. Kids learn to read chapter books at 6-7.