English is a combination of two languages.
1) Anglo-Saxon influences, which came from Germany.
2) Latin speech influences, which came from Italy.
Saxon words are shorter and simpler than Latin ones.
Here's the takeaway: If you want to write clearly, use more Saxon words.
1) Anglo-Saxon influences, which came from Germany.
2) Latin speech influences, which came from Italy.
Saxon words are shorter and simpler than Latin ones.
Here's the takeaway: If you want to write clearly, use more Saxon words.
This echoes some famous writing wisdom.
Here's Winston Churchill: “Broadly speaking, short words are best, and the old words, when short, are best of all.”
And this is from Strunk and White: “Anglo-Saxon is a livelier tongue than Latin, so use Anglo-Saxon words.”
Here's Winston Churchill: “Broadly speaking, short words are best, and the old words, when short, are best of all.”
And this is from Strunk and White: “Anglo-Saxon is a livelier tongue than Latin, so use Anglo-Saxon words.”
As the Fowler Brothers once wrote, people prefer concrete words to abstract ones, familiar words to unfamiliar ones, short words to long ones, and Saxon words to Latin ones.
Boris Johnson explains it best in this video.
Boris Johnson explains it best in this video.
Saxon words may be simpler, but that doesn't mean you should only use them.
History's greatest orators were masters at balancing simple Saxon words with rhythmic Latin ones. While speaking, they used large Latin words for complex arguments and plain Saxon words for plain ones.
History's greatest orators were masters at balancing simple Saxon words with rhythmic Latin ones. While speaking, they used large Latin words for complex arguments and plain Saxon words for plain ones.
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