Language is an art form. It's often overlooked in the text, IM, and social media world we currently live in, but at its most basic, its essence is art. Much like sculpting and painting, language allows us to create wonderful tapestries of expression through stories, blogs, research articles, lyrics, and social media posts.
What is a Ten Cent Word?
To start with, what is a ten-cent word? They are the terms we use in everyday casual conversation. They are simple to understand and comprehend. Some examples are: "run," "cat," "house," "job," and "happy." Everyone knows those words and what they mean. They convey a simple idea that is easily understood.
What is a Ten Dollar Word?
These are the words that typically sound sophisticated and refined. It can make the author seem more educated and knowledgeable when appropriately used. Some examples are: "loquacious," "ephemeral," "concatenation," and "juxtapose."
Do they sound impressive? Sure.
Can they come off as pretentious? Yes.
That's why it's essential to know when to use them.
Note the Difference in How it Reads
Here is a paragraph using ten-dollar words:
Under the cerulean expanse of a twilight sky, she stood, an enigmatic vision of pulchritude and melancholic grace, her every movement imbued with an ethereal elegance that seemed to suspend time itself. His heart, a turbulent cacophony of desires and insecurities, beat erratically in her presence, as though her mere proximity had the power to unravel his very composure. The tenuous connection between them, fragile as gossamer, pulsed with an ineffable yearning, an ache neither of them dared to voice but both felt deeply. It was a love not born of circumstance, but of destiny—an exquisitely fated collision of souls that defied both logic and reason.
Here is a paragraph using ten-cent words in the romance genre:
Under the soft glow of the setting sun, she stood by the water, her hair gently swaying in the breeze. He watched her, heart racing, feeling an unfamiliar pull he couldn’t quite explain. There was something about her, something that made the world seem quieter, as if everything else faded away when she was near. He didn’t know if it was love yet, but it felt like the start of something bigger, something important. All he knew was that, in that moment, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but right there, with her.
They both evoke a different feeling when reading them, don't they? In the first example, I felt like I was transported back to Hemingway or even further back to Jane Austen. The words, while beautiful, convey a different sense of the moment described.
The second example reads like a straightforward contemporary romance with simpler wording, allowing the flow to move quickly.
One of the most incredible things is that the words are free—all of them. Every single letter is free. Like when you moved the magnetic letters on the refrigerator to form words, you can now link words together and express yourself to the world with a button click and no price tag attached.
Language is a lasting method of expression. We can express condolences, joy, excitement, and congratulations through words.
When you start as an author, it can be daunting to stare at the blank page and think of something to write about. Oftentimes, we want to choose the perfect word for a fantastic sentence to impress our readers. We want to write the ideal narrative with the most incredible word choices. We can get lost in our thoughts and lose sight of the magic that happens when we write.
Which brings me back to the title of this blog.
Not all words are created equal.
Word choice matters when writing.
Know Your Audience
There is certainly a time and place to use both types of words. The key is to know when and how to apply them. The easiest method is to write to your audience. If you are writing an academic article for a group of doctoral candidates, then more ten-dollar words might be warranted.
So, Who Wins the War?
You won't like it, but it's a tie.
You can mix and match ten-cent and ten-dollar words to write beautiful prose that still moves quickly and conveys the images you want to create with excellent descriptions. Just find a happy balance.
I typically write using ten-cent words, but that's because much of what I write is contemporary general fiction. But that doesn't mean I don't dip into the ten-dollar word jar every now and then.
Write ON.
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