For better or worse I write as I speak; way back in sixth grade I remember kids asking what some of the words I used meant, but at least they asked.

Regarding medical and similar technical areas I agree with you, but I do believe that there is a major difference between eliminating jargon/simplifying and ‘writing down’.

Thanks for visiting and adding your thoughts.

They may not be classed as great literature by the the world at large, in fact many are probably considered trivial, but they touch me and that is my litmus test for ‘great’.

And yes – we are lazy as a species – not all of us, but a generalization.

PS – If you like cerebral challenges, read that book!

I have only started it, but find it fascinating and challenging!

Regards,

I don’t Twitter. When we release our new product we’ll probably be forced to use Twitter for marketing, but I’ll find someone else to do it.

My problem is that for the same time other people read blogs, update Facebook and MySpace and Tweet, I’d rather read a book, Business Week or the NT Times.

But that’s what us dinosaurs do:)

Miki your blogs are not too difficult to understand you can keep on using 3 or 4 syllables words ;)

Your writing is great, that is why I follow your blog.

I also agree with your position that we are dumbing down our ability to communicate. Between the failing school systems, rampant text messaging, Twitter, and other “social media,” I wonder how long it will be before anyone under middle-age will be able to form a complete sentence?

With parents now having to take classes on how to understand and communicate with the “texting” generation, there appears to be little hope for salvaging what used to be considered “proper” English. I fear that writing at the 7th grade level today, is not the same as it was a few decades ago.

Incidentally, what are your thoughts on Twitter? I have not tried it yet, but I am frequently told that it is something I simply must do. I have resisted so far.

Thank you for your insightful posts.

Humans are lazy animals, so if everyone with a general or unknown audience writes to the lowest common denominator then it will keep moving lower—and right now vocabulary and all that’s connected to it seems to be sinking like a stone.