Pomposity in Essays

College Essays
1

<p>Many of the people I ask to review my essays have told me that the language I use is far too highfalutin. </p>

<p>So my question is whether it is alright to have a</p>

<p>1) Highfalutin essay that contains a good flow, but may sound somewhat pompous
or
2) Mellow and modest essay that may not have a real flow, but does convey the same points.</p>

<p>Most people I ask actually berate me for using even a little bit of bombast in my essays, but most of them are not real professionals, and most do not have experience in said field.</p>

<p>So.</p>

<p>Is it alright to be somewhat pompous in an essay and include some Highfalutin language to gain a good flow, or should we keep the essays mellow and modest?</p>

2

<p>I don’t think using pompous language is the only way to have a good flow in your writing. If many people are commenting that your language is too extravagant, you’re probably not flowing as well as you think you are. With good flow, people wouldn’t notice the individual words so much as the feel of the piece in general.</p>

3

<p>The very fact that you use the words highfalutin and bombast tells me something is wrong with your writing. </p>

<p>To add to the poster above. If people are telling you the something then it’s probably a good idea to listen. </p>

4

<p>There is no place for pomposity or bombast. That does not mean that the writer can’t use exciting and intelligent language but it should not stick out as awkward or pompous. This has nothing to do with what profession someone is. This is a college admissions essay. To use the word ‘highfaultin’ implied to me that you are using words that you are not able to pull off.</p>

5

<p>My boyfriend has this best friend who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. He may very well be, but the way he uses words like that in his writing makes it absolute torture to read. I have a decent vocabulary, and even I can’t understand him half the time. Don’t make the admissions officers feel dumb. They won’t appreciate it.</p>

6

<p>There’s no reason not to be enthusiastic or exuberant, though. You don’t have to be ‘mellow’ if that isn’t you or what you want to convey. </p>

7

<p>A word with more syllables is not necessarily the best word to use. You might be falling into the common trap of using five-dollar SAT vocab words that almost, but don’t quite mean the things that you think they mean. This makes for stilted and awkward writing.</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>[-X Big words aren’t bad in themselves, but people wouldn’t be criticizing you if you were using them correctly (I don’t just mean in terms of definition…there’s a time and a place for big words). </p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>This line speaks to me: "Most people say I use big words, but there’s no much substance or meaning to my writing. I don’t believe them though, because they’re not professional writers. </p>

<p>As well, I find it to be a fair surmise that if your writing and demeanor in this post are indicative of how you came across in your college essays, your ‘pomposity’ was not in your favor. </p>

<p>I would also add that modest, regular language does not preclude your essay from having good flow. If someone told you, you need big words to have a good flow, they lied to you.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Though length and prolixity are not the same, they are similar. It takes a truly strong writer to convey a strong message in simple terms or in limited length, but to shroud your message behind big words so it looks more thought out or to write until there’s no possible way you haven’t hit every point? We can all do that.</p>