I Was Wondering....

Well there are some writers who have huge vocabularies and then other's who use the same words over and over.
Do you think that it matter's whether or not you use bigger words in your poetry?

First of all, Emily Dickinson has been proved to had the aid of a dictionary when she wrote. In most cases, people appreciate poems with big words and they don't understand them, so they just skim by them... That's in most cases. The importance of a poem is it's power. If you can bear power in simple words and few as well, then obviously that is a poem that would be more appreciated than a poem with big words and a lot of them... The easier a poem is to understand, in most cases, the better... the harder hitting the poem, the better the poem AND the poet. Of course, it all depends on who looks at the poem, but the above is what happens in most cases.

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I think the main, most gallant reason for an elaborate vocabulary would be rhyming or variation. So when poets have the capacity to elucidate their language at will, they may find that using conventional and in their opinion bland words do not satisfy the piece.

I've been known for intrinsically over-extending my writing, and everyday speech, for that matter. But apropos poetry I think it can be used effectively or to futility, depending on how much time a reader is willing to spend concentrating on the text to understand what the devil the bard is talking about.

Well I never thought of it that way . I truely believe that it doesnt really matter as long as you get out what you want and just tell it like it is and they express how that person feel.

I also think the flow is the most important.

But a vide set of words, always impresses me.

I doooo o sue big words lol, i dont like big words as my undestanding of them isnt good so i often have to work out what the word means, i think poetry is good with or without big words as long as the poet makes a good job then the words will not matter

While a huge vocabulary can be impressive or even intimidating, It doesn't matter how big the words are "If it don't flow then it's just for show"

I mostly use more complex words to describe things and keep everything else relatively simple

Whether or not a person uses ‘big’ words in their poetry, it’s wise to read as much as possible and make the most of dictionaries and thesauruses.

You can have a massive vocabulary and rarely ever use ‘big’ words, but the wider your vocabulary the more choice you have.

If you don’t know that many words then your choice is limited and there may be more appropriate words for what you are writing, but obviously you wont know that so your work may suffer as a result.

You can actually have your vocabulary tested. I had mine tested by a educational psychologist and I ranked in the 99th centile, which is within the ‘superior’ range, meaning I’ve a very good vocabulary, but I rarely use the majority of words I know, because they simply aren’t appropriate in most situations. Having a wide vocabulary doesn’t mean you have to constantly use massive words and communicate through complex language…it just gives a writer more choice and the ability to better express themselves.

Best way to widen your vocab’ is to just read everything you can, not just certain genres or books, but a wide range of texts, from different time periods, movements, genres and countries. That’s what I did, and still do. I used to have a tiny vocabulary and it frustrated me no end…anyone can better theirs, its just a matter of collecting words :)

I get bored if someone uses the same, simple words over and over within a piece. It gives me the impression that the writer doesn't read a lot, and isn't interested in expanding their vocabulary. It's a palette to paint with - and if you just have black and white, it's not going to be as vibrant and engaging as someone's work who has more color.

Of course, it's important to understand the words you're using, and not just throwing them into your work because you want to seem smart. That's actually worse than using only a few words in your poem.

That's very true. I agree fully with this.

A lot of people say it's not the words that are said in a poem that are more highly rated but the way they're said. To be honest, I don't think that's entirely correct. The vocabulary and the words said are a completely different art, but harmonise with flow and structure, holding an equal importance.

Well, of course, but if your words don't put anything across, how well it is written is futile. A larger vocabulary can help you branch out for more figurative words.

For example, in a poem where metaphors and figurative language are religious, the word "air" can be replaced by "heaven", if used in the context of an attitude. You have to have a larger understanding of the words to use them effectively, rather than just using words that don't have any impact, even if they are laid out with superb flow.

I dont think so...bigger words sound right if used right otherwise they just sound like your trying to sound smart or something. Sometimes the smallest words can count more than a bigger word because more people can relate to it too.

But if you've got a subject that requires you to write something repetitively, the same bland word won't grip a reader, and it takes a fair amount of knowledge to intrinsically select words from a repetoire and use them effectively.

Well when you write poems you have to drive the reader in to it. You don't want a reader read it and then stop in the middle of it because of bland word all the time.

I dont think it matter use what fits if its a big word it may not flow nicly easy words usually do but it truly doesnt matter

Bigger words nice..but it doesn't matter..well it depends on the flow..

Yea but flow is also a key factor

I don't think they have to be big words in poetry.. just don't use the same words more than you have to.. To me, it makes the poem boring and plain.. I try to throw creativity in a lot, I think of a word and then think of synonyms for the word to spice it up a bit.