John Wesley Quotes

Why say 'utilize' when you can say 'use'?

Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.

Aim for brevity while avoiding jargon.

It behooves us to avoid archaisms. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

Don't use a five-dollar word when a fifty-cent word will do.

Never use a long word where a short one will do.

I preferred the simplest vocabulary.

I write in quite a simple way because that's just the way I write. The vocab I use is quite wee. That's just the way I talk.

Uncommon things must be said in common words.

I've always been a fan of plain writing. I hate metaphor-laden, heavily larded, lyrical writing.

Don't use big words. They mean so little.

One should use common words to say uncommon things

If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.

Uncommon things must be said in common words, if you would have them to be received in less than a century.

I never want to confuse people or go over their heads.

Short words are best and the old words when short are best of all.

And how is clarity to be achieved? Mainly by taking trouble and by writing to serve people rather than to impress them.

There are writers who pour out words, concepts that sound really important but that basically say nothing. I always tried to be as concise as possible, all to try and reach everyone, but especially the simple people, those who needed to be reached more than anyone else.

The finest language is mostly made up of simple unimposing words.

Words easy to be understood do often hit the mark; when high and learned ones do only pierce the air.

I've simplified much more in my writing. I say what I've got to say, not in metaphor.

My purpose in public address and in speech is really encapsulated in three C's: clear, concise, correct. No overblowing rhetoric or anything like that. As simple as possible: clear, concise, correct.

The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.

I want it to be easy to read. I'm not writing exotic literature.

Use no superfluous word, no adjective, which does not reveal something.