Confusing Vocabulary in Articles regarding Candidates Flaws

[Optixmom]

Epiphenomena? Xenophobia? :confused:

I am college educated (even got my Masters degree in engineering) and I have a hard time reading these articles. I think the articles would have better CLARITY if they used words that were more common in everyday conversation. Fear of foreigners (definition of Xenophobia), now I understand that. Why don't you just say that? A secondary phenomenon (definition of Epiphenomena) is something that also makes me pause.

Am I the only one who has to Google these words to be able to understand the gist of these articles? The authors need to do a better job at using the K.I.S.S. way of writing: Keep It Simple Silly (yes, I replaced Stupid, because we are not in that category). It is about communicating your point to ALL readers.

If I have to spend anytime on Google to figure out what you are trying to say, YOU HAVE LOST ME and I won't bother reading the rest of your article!

(P.S. I even had to look up the word gaffe. :( </embarrassing confession> )

[Patsy]

I've got Merriam and Webster right beside me. Not to mention Roget:D

And I'm right there with you in education. English no less and this has been better than any word-a-day calendar for improving my vocab by every count!!

[Sandy in PA]

Epiphenomena? I can honestly say I've never heard that one or seen in print.

[KYWildcatFan]

I highly agree. They seem to have really expanded their wording lately. It's ridiculous to say the least. If we are not able to understand these articles how is anyone else? Maybe that's why BO's followers are so lost. They are just so impressed with all these big words they think there candidate is soooo superior. Regardless I think they are NOT communicating on a level that is acceptable.

[teachgrd3]

I'm on an iBook, running Safari, and you can download a dictionary widget for your dashboard. I use mine ALL the time!

I had to look up xenophobic also...... "prejudiced, bigoted, racist," etc. Why don't they just use those terms in the first place?

[endodoc79]

This forum is better the Word-A-Day calendar! LOL. When making telephone calls for Hillary yesterday, I was asked about her platform in Education and No Child Left Behind. I said that Hillary wants to junk NCLB because you are doing test prep and not really teaching core skills. Now I can add that Hillary's websites are better than the University of Phoenix online for teaching reading, writing and building vocabulary. As Hillary says she wants all of us to reach and exceed our potential. This forum is a great start.

[Patsy]

This forum is better the Word-A-Day calendar! LOL. When making telephone calls for Hillary yesterday, I was asked about her platform in Education and No Child Left Behind. I said that Hillary wants to junk NCLB because you are doing test prep and not really teaching core skills. Now I can add that Hillary's websites are better than the University of Phoenix online for teaching reading, writing and building vocabulary. As Hillary says she wants all of us to reach and exceed our potential. This forum is a great start.

LMAO

[SadStateOfAffairs]

The writers are trying to impress Obama with their eloquence.........

[Optixmom]

Epiphenomena? I can honestly say I've never heard that one or seen in print.

That was in the article regarding the four sins of Obama.

If authors are using vocabulary that is high-brow, then how in the world do they think they will reach a broad audience? (especially undecideds).

[Optixmom]

These articles remind me of the college version of the song, "Show me the way to go home." You know:

Show me the way to go home.
I'm tired and I wanna go to bed.
Well I had a little drink about an hour ago,
and it went straight to my head...

The college version is:

Indicate the route to my habitual abode.
I'm fatigued and I wish to retire.
Well I had an alcoholic beverage sixty minutes ago,
and it went straight to my cerebellum...

[hillary4change]

These articles remind me of the college version of the song, "Show me the way to go home." You know:

Show me the way to go home.
I'm tired and I wanna go to bed.
Well I had a little drink about an hour ago,
and it went straight to my head...

The college version is:

Indicate the route to my habitual abode.
I'm fatigued and I wish to retire.
Well I had an alcoholic beverage sixty minutes ago,
and it went straight to my cerebellum...


LMAO, I agree they need to try to impress a little less.
I think they may be feeling a little inferior with all the Latte Liberal, higher education crap. They jusy want to keep up. I don't know, maybe these journalists think the Latte's read Tabor's for pleasure!!!!

[AdrienneJ]

ephiph-what?
Big words, 'eh? That won't get my vote. I sometimes throw in a "bigger" word because it fits in like mortar ("splooft"-sound of mortar) between bricks.
But if you don't know the word, you should still be able to see the wall.
I have found from my experience that folks who insist on using five-syllable words strung together endlessly-- actually have very little to say.

[Santiago]

Political correctness, thy name is semantics.