Everything you know is wrong: why using big words can made you sound stupid
summary
Research finds abstract phrasing signals power (people who sound vague are perceived as in control) while specific detail increases perceived truth — e.g., a politician’s abstract bushfire statement vs an ABC report naming $75,000 to koala hospitals. The talk argues peer‑reviewed evidence supports “fake it ’til you make it” for power but recommends plain, story‑ordered prose for documentation: prune zombie nouns, put the important bit first, kill all adverbs, test docs by doing the steps and asking the newest teammate for an idiot check.
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chapters (8)
- 0:00Start
- 12:00ABSTRACT IS POWER Abstract statements indicate control and distance.
- 17:16GRAMMAR RULES!
- 17:35ACTIVE VOICE!
- 30:01BUST THE JARGON!
- 31:23YOU DON'T NEED THE ADVERBS!
- 31:59PUT THE IMPORTANT BITS FIRST!
- 32:45THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!
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