Writing A-Z: G is for Glitz and Gobbledybook

New writers, in particular can be under the false impression that the “glitzier” and fancier the words, the more “important” their writing seems. My mom certainly never used this phrase, but I think of her when I think of the term “high-falutin.” She wasn’t — in fact she was exactly the opposite and had nothing but disdain for anyone who put on airs!

She was smart as a whip and literally worked crossword puzzles in ink! She had forgotten more words than many highly-educated, high-powered individuals had ever learned of or heard about. But you didn’t have to guess about her intelligence and knowledge about the world and everything going on in it! Mom demonstrated that it’s better to use a few “right” word than to use too many wrong ones.

All of this to say, I can easily understand my immense and intense love for words! I love their beauty, and magic and power. But I don’t need to use a bunch of glitzy words for readers to know that! When our words are well-chosen, they serve our message better, because they don’t get all tangled up in what the actual message is!

Gobbdledygook? That’s all those empty, extraneous, glitzy words strung together in an attempt to make a point, or attempt to use more words, lots of words, to appear more intelligent. It typically demonstrates a lack confidence in one’s ability to communicate effectively! One well-placed, appropriately employed word is for more a sign of knowledge than all the jumbled up, extraneous words we might feel compelled to use.

You can listen to the replay of my conversation on this topic with other writers on Clubhouse in January HERE.

You can find me on line any time at linktr.ee/themarymoss