Ok, I just stumbled upon writing advice in a book I was reading. A publisher was advising a writer to dial it done notch saying "Why use a ten dollar word when a ten cent one will do?"
That had me thinking that might apply to me I tend to drift to ten dollar words, using words that make it seem like I know darn well what I am writing about...or does it depend who you are writing for ?
and well I couldnt just take advice from a fictional character even if in a somewhat bestseller novel...
Politics and the English Language - George Orwell
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Barbara translation help
Would Will Self write an action adventure yarn?