The Case for Short Words

Guide for Reading the Essay "The Case for Short Words":

1. The title of the selection "The Case for Short Words" gives you a clue to the author's opinion about short words. Did this essay convince you to use short words in your writing? Why or why not?

2. Which of the two student essays did you like better? What did you like about it?

3. What do all the words in the first four paragraphs of the essay have in common?

4. What well-known authors does Lederer quote to make his case for short words?

5. When Lederer compares short words to specific objects - like sparks, the dawn, or a blade, - he is creating powerful images. How does this help make his point?

6. In the last paragraph, the suggestion to set up a sign is not meant literally. Why do you think the author makes the suggestion?

7. Do you think the effectiveness of your writing would increase if you used more short words? Why or why not?

Critical Thinking:

Inspired by his students, a best-selling author and a teacher, Richard Lederer explains that the idea for his essay "was inspired by real-life examples of the power of short words." These examples came from the many fine essays submitted to him by his students in response to an assignment on the topic of long and short words. In making his case for short words, Richard Lederer relies on three different kinds of sources: his own writing, quotations of well-known writers and literary works, and students' writing.