How bright are our readers?

[AlexBailey]

First of all, I don't think bright is exactly the word to use regarding your examples.

I don't know, if you provide proper context for uncommon words the reader's ability to handle it can come down to how bright they are.

I'm thinking of my ex-wife here. She could be flat out obtuse, easily infuriated by being made to feel inferior by someone's superior vocabulary. She took great offense when my mother referred to her as 'disillusioned' when she was disappointed with her new job in a tasting room at a winery. In her mind it was easier to get angry and ruin the day than it was to ask what someone meant when she didn't understand a word.

 

[Comshaw]

Like many of these discussions, this one got me out looking at story readability and vocabulary.

On readability:
"According to George Klare, a key researcher and writer on the topic of readability, most popular novels are written at a 7th-grade reading level. The average adult reads at around grade 9. But, for recreation, they enjoy reading a couple of grades under their actual reading grade level."
https://readable.com/blog/popular-fiction-and-readability/

This goes along with what I've read about it in the past. Most of Hemingway's stories are at a 6th grade reading level. It seems keeping the tale fairly simple as to language used helps people get lost in the story. It makes sense to me. If you don't have to think about trying to figure out the language, or the meaning of words, you can allow yourself to relax and enjoy the story for the story.

That's if one is writing for the reader. If I'm writing just for me, using every bit of my vocabulary adding as many ten dollars words as I can stuff in there, is perfect if that's what I'm feeling at the time.

A person's vocabulary is another thing. Most voracious readers I know have astounding vocabularies. I took an online test and mine turned out, not astoundingly large, but healthy. I know these online tests aren't 100% accurate, but they do show generally where mine is and it's fun to find out.
Vocabulary Test

Comshaw

 

[Kumquatqueen]

The Sun newspaper is still the top-selling paper in the UK despite no longer having topless teenagers on page 3 and being boycotted by all of Liverpool. The style guide requires articles to be comprehensible to the average nine year old.

Which is pretty hard to write, and probably it's harder than most papers for a non-native speaker to comprehend given all the slang, but whatever one thinks of its stances on issues, it's impressive writing. Especially the headlines. Eg 'Up Yours, DeLors!', 'Gotcha!' (sinking of the Belgrano),and the classic "Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious" (tiny team Inverness Caledonian Thistle beat giants Celtic 3-1)

 

[Voboy]

I did a historical story that involved beekeeping, and used an old word ("skep") for beehive. I liked it better than hive, and it's what people actually called the damn things back then.

I never really defined it, but I know I didn't have to. Because it was obvious, from context, that it was a woven place where you put bees. And even if that wasn't obvious, Google is always just a tab away.

One of the comments I got on that story was something to the effect that the reader appreciated being educated, as well as getting off. I like that.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Thinking about what people do and don't find hard with reading - my partner is very dyslexic. His vocabulary is a very good, but his reading is very slow. The result is that he's almost never read a review paper in his field, because for him it's no quicker than reading original research, because the limiting factor isnt his understanding of the concepts. It also means that he does like reading for pleasure, but 20 min before sleeping is less than two pages of a book, for him. Half a Lit page, if that.

So any author he reads has to have a payoff in every paragraph. Zero slow build. Pratchett, Bill Bryson and some kids books pass this test. Erotica? Nah.

 

[Voboy]

Pratchett passes every test.

 

[SamScribble]

From the comments left and some of the 'conversations' I have had with readers, I would say that some of them are very bright and some are very dumb indeed.

However, on the question of using the 'right' word rather than the easy word, I think 'you pays your money and you takes your chances' (as one of my editors used to say). I am inclined to keep in mind what Kurt Vonnegut used to tell his students at the Iowa Writers' Workshop: 'Write it short, but not too short. And use words that I will recognise.'

 

[oggbashan]

Some of my readers enjoyed this, despite its aim and title:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-worst-chain-story-ever-ch-01

and this:

https://www.literotica.com/s/breathless-stargazing

That was is set at reading ease zero and grade level required - 99!

 

[RachelPost]

When I write for Lit, I use a simpler vocabulary then in my professional works. There my audience are all doctors. And a higher comprehension is the norm. Academic and proper medical terminology are mandatory. For Lit. I tend to follow advice from a non-fiction author friend. Write for a reading level or 9-10th grade. Most higher level readers won't feel insulted, while lesser readers won't feel overwhelmed.

 

[KeithD]

When I write for Lit, I use a simpler vocabulary then in my professional works. There my audience are all doctors. And a higher comprehension is the norm. Academic and proper medical terminology are mandatory. For Lit. I tend to follow advice from a non-fiction author friend. Write for a reading level or 9-10th grade. Most higher level readers won't feel insulted, while lesser readers won't feel overwhelmed.

The publishers' norm I found for fiction writing is the 7th to 9th grade level.

 

[Nylonian]

I like to think those reading my stories are more than merely literate. I'll use, for instance, words like 'susurration' when they are the best choice, not for effect but because they are the best choice for expressing what's happening. In one sense that's a compliment to the reader, yet I suppose it can also be a challenge.

I'm now working on a story in which two people in a threesome arrange a mirror by the bed so the third person can better see what's happening. The proper term for the mirror I have in mind is a 'cheval mirror'. I'm tempted to simply call it that rather than plod through something like 'a free-standing, full-length, swiveling floor mirror'. The details matter a bit as many floor mirrors simply stand there and cannot be adjusted in any way, which would defeat the intended purpose.

So, back to the original question. When you are writing, what assumptions do you make about your readers? How educated, how literate, how accepting do you see them?
https://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/im/71668557/resize-h445%5Ecompr-r85/1028/102841469/Bethzy+Traditional+Cheval+Mirror.jpg

I hate making assumptions but gun to head, I would say my readers are reading at high school graduate level at least. I mainly write what I like, when I like since I only started writing to fill a hole that I saw in the market.

You should use those words if they're the best for the situation. That's what I would do anyway. Then again I don't usually go into too much details about objects in my settings. Hope this helps.

 

[windar]

Come on guys, let's be honest with ourselves. Readers who love our stories are brilliant; those who don't are idiots.

 

[Comshaw]

Come on guys, let's be honest with ourselves. Readers who love our stories are brilliant; those who don't are idiots.

Few will admit it (I ain't gunna) but I think almost everyone feels that way.

Comshaw

 

[jomar]

Pratchett passes every test.

Maybe. Not my cup of tea.

As far as the OP goes, I use non-highbrow words, but trust readers to understand plots and to fill in gaps as needed.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Pratchett passes every test.

Well, except maybe the 'being able to write in chapters' test. Actually, come to think of it, he was a total bloody amateur.

I don't know, if you provide proper context for uncommon words the reader's ability to handle it can come down to how bright they are.

Sure, guessing from context is a skill that requires intelligence. I was thinking about TP using the word without giving much context.

 

[PennameWombat]

A cheval mirror is simply a mirror mounted in a frame. Using it for erotic purposes is no different than using any other not-quite everyday object for erotic purposes. But my guess is many more people would simply think of it as a ‘tilting mirror’ as opposed to knowing its formal name. That’s no reason to not use the name and it’ll likely be worked out by most readers.

I don’t run a grade level analysis on my stories, but I don’t make an effort to use obtuse vocabulary. Not that I’m above tossing it a word here and there. I also try to write to my setting and characters. To the best of my understanding, I try to write to a level similar to most novels I read.

I’ve never had any comments around complexity of my language. So it’s not something that’s ever stood out for my readers.

 

[davion2308]

I read at a college level so I write at a college level. I won't lie, I don't know when "susurration" is ever the best to use but I don't shy away from the five-dollar words when I'm writing.

I'm assuming people have a better-than-average vocabulary because reading porn is more cerebral than watching porn. Them choosing this media means they're a shade smarter than the average bear.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't know, if you provide proper context for uncommon words the reader's ability to handle it can come down to how bright they are.

I'm thinking of my ex-wife here. She could be flat out obtuse, easily infuriated by being made to feel inferior by someone's superior vocabulary. She took great offense when my mother referred to her as 'disillusioned' when she was disappointed with her new job in a tasting room at a winery. In her mind it was easier to get angry and ruin the day than it was to ask what someone meant when she didn't understand a word.

I'm the other way around. I quit high school and don't have much in the way of formal education. But I didn't quit for lack of grades, I quit before I was expelled for fighting and before I really hurt someone. I'm well read, enjoy learning new things and despite the fact I tend to speak in the inner city manner was raised in "I don't got nothin'" I have an extensive vocabulary.

I like to get around people who think their superior, who toss around their word of the day calendar vocab, try and sound pretentious and think they're talking over my head. I lead them along, let them keep going, then pretty much make them look like fools.

My wife hates that I call myself a drop out and get people to underestimate me, but I think its a fun game. We went to one of her toastmasters dinners where a guy was going on and on like he's the smartest guy in the room about everything, then started in on philosophy, and someone asked him a question which he didn't answer correctly, and knew it, he was just saying it so confidently they assumed he knew.

My wife said just before I opened my mouth she swore she heard the sound of a steel trap snapping shut.

Never judge the book by its cover, in any way. People who use big words aren't always that bright, people who don't feel the need to flex their intellect all the time are no where near as simple as they put themselves out to be.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I learned, from English class in High School, that a high percentage of people are only at an 8th grade reading level. Now that was back in the 60s and since then our education system has gone to shit, so that 8th grade level is now probably at a 4th grade level. And since the advent of texting probably even less than that.

I have had comments about how easy it is to read my stuff from many users and I know I write at an 8th grade level from sites that will measure that for you.

Penny you could have said, "a freestanding, full length, adjustable mirror"

 

[Omenainen]

As far as I know, we don’t grade texts by difficulty, certainly not outside educational system. I have no idea what “reading on grade X level” means, and so far I’ve been too lazy to find out. I’ve also been too lazy to check what grade corresponds to what age group... good thing I mostly write about middle aged people

 

[Voboy]

I'll be honest: I don't actually know what "eighth-grade reading level" or "eleventh-grade reading level" mean.

I mean, of course I grasp the concept. But I don't know the practical differences, so they have no impact on my writing. I always, always, always write what I would want to read, the way I would want to read it. So I'd say my readers are as bright as I am, apparently.

 

[SimonDoom]

The most annoyingly dumb comment I get from readers is when they protest that stories I've submitted to the 750-word event are too short. I've written 7 of those stories, I think, and nearly every single one has a comment like that. I respect my readers but that's the comment that makes me want to say, F off.

 

[lovecraft68]

The most annoyingly dumb comment I get from readers is when they protest that stories I've submitted to the 750-word event are too short. I've written 7 of those stories, I think, and nearly every single one has a comment like that. I respect my readers but that's the comment that makes me want to say, F off.

To me, that's proof they just click without paying attention or reading disclaimers.
My favorite is the readers telling me they are awaiting the sequel to the story they just read. The story that's 10 years old meaning yeah, there is no sequel

 

[AlexBailey]

Never judge the book by its cover, in any way. People who use big words aren't always that bright, people who don't feel the need to flex their intellect all the time are no where near as simple as they put themselves out to be.

Definitely - never judge a book by it's cover. I started out as a poor kid in Oakland until my mom scrapped her way through college and remarried.

My step dad was one of those guys who'd let you know he graduated from Stanford within ten minutes of meeting him - superior fuck-wit. He was educated up the ass but denied that he was an abusive alcoholic, using his ten dollar words with a ten year old without explanation - a failed man seeking respect by baffling lesser educated people with his bullshit, never playing games with his kids because he said he "always played to win."

My mom wanted an intellectual tough guy who could lord above everyone else. His heros were Jesus Christ and Cyrano de Bergerac but he never had the depth nor compassion - he used his air of superiority as a bludgeon to mask an inferiority complex. Every ten dollar word or bible verse I learned was one less arrow he could use to shoot me down - I gathered them like armor.

Now I don't see fancy words as elitist, I see them as seasoning to be mixed in and shared. I have an ear for jazz but I like rock and roll and folk music. I like fancy words but I try to share them in ways that are accessible.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Sure, guessing from context is a skill that requires intelligence. I was thinking about TP using the word without giving much context.

Without checking, I think one of them ran something like I fell asleep listening to the susurration of soft, late-night footsteps in the residence hallway outside my door.

The most annoyingly dumb comment I get from readers is when they protest that stories I've submitted to the 750-word event are too short. I've written 7 of those stories, I think, and nearly every single one has a comment like that. I respect my readers but that's the comment that makes me want to say, F off.

Oh yes. "750 Words' is apparently too complex a concept for some.