Words that Often Obfuscate
©Judy Vorfeld
What do I mean by words that obfuscate? In fact, what does "obfuscate" mean? It's a word that rarely finds a home in a normal business letter. Let's analyze just a few words that don't belong in most business documents. I'll also offer better (I hope!) choices for everyday usage.
OBFUSCATE: AHB-fuh-SKET
Means: to make something unclear, difficult to understand.
Try: confuse, alter, change, and modify.
E·GRE·GIOUS: ee-GREE-juss
Means: Outrageously bad. Ridiculous to an extraordinary degree.
Try: flagrant, blatant, absurd, bizarre, grotesque, gross, and glaring.
OB·SE·QUI·OUS: ahb-SEE-kwee-us
Means: too eager to please or obey
Try: Also fawning, flattering, toadying, submissive, fawning, groveling, unctuous, smarmy.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Avoid using ostentatious words that obfuscate their unembellished significance. Also, avoid being either egregious or obsequious, and you will do satisfactorily.
DON'T USE BIG WORDS!
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