When should I use big or unusual words in my writing?

Answer 1

I agree with both Kevin and Sadie. The exception that I would include is when you are using academic or professional vocabulary. If you are writing for a particular industry, it is important to correctly use the words that are appropriate for that industry. Those words may not be accessible to all readers, but they should be accessible and accurate for YOUR readers. Audience always matters. College professors are often looking for academic vocabulary in a student's writing to assess their understanding of the material, concept, or process described. Don't avoid "big" words if your audience expects them.

Answer 2

My answer is: sparingly! It's important to understand that even if you feel your vocabulary is too "basic" for the effect you are trying to get across to your readers, one of the most important foundations of good writing is clarity. If you don't have an excellent grasp of what a word means, and, more importantly, when it is appropriate to use it, you will confuse your reader and distract them from the meaning of your work.

It's also important to always remember that even if you are well-versed in the meaning of these words, you must also take into account what you are writing as well as who you are writing for. Save the fancier words for appropriate times.

That being said, expanding your vocabulary is incredibly crucial to improving your writing, so don't be afraid of sources that contain it! The more you engage with a word to understand its usage, the more comfortable you will become in placing it in your writing tool belt.

Answer 3

As students learn advanced vocabulary words, they are often tempted to overuse them.

But that's a great mistake.

Your goal in writing should always be to use the right word for the job. Bigger is not better. Rarer is not more valuable. Your ultimate aim should always be clarity: saying exactly what you want to say.

It's easy to misuse those big words. And it's always counterproductive to call attention away from what you are saying to how you are saying it.

So avoid fanciness!

Don't write like you are decorating a Christmas tree. Write like you are building a house.

Used artfully, ordinary materials can get fabulous results.