Dylan Moore

English 111
9/7/15
1. In Lederers essay when he uses many polysyllabic words he shows the
reader that writing can be good with larger words as well as shorter words. In
the first four paragraphs Lederer uses only one syllable words. By switching
from one syllable words to words with many syllables Lederer explains to the
reader that using different sized words can have a different impact on a
reader or audience by switching from small to large syllable words.
2. Lederer uses examples of different writers using words with mono syllables to
convey that these monosyllable words are still highly effective in writing.
Shakespeare is one of the most well-known writers in history and even he
uses monosyllable words constantly in his writing. Along with Shakespeare
this monosyllable technique is also used in the Bible. Shakespeares writing
and the Bible are both very effective even though they use monosyllables
constantly. Lastly he gives the example of his students using this technique
and their writing was very meaningful even though there were only
monosyllable words. Each of these three examples are very different from
one another but one thing they have in common is their effective use of
monosyllable, words. The author uses these examples to convey to the
reader that any type of writing can use monosyllables effectively.
3. Lederer uses many similes and metaphors in his writing to help express his
point in his writing. For example, in the first line of paragraph three he says
Short words are quick like moths that flit from flame to flame When he
says this he means that small words are short and fast. By using a simile
rather than saying something like small words are quick the reader can
better understand what he means when he explains small words. The author
also uses metaphor in his writing by saying Make them [short words] the
spine and the heart of what you speak. It is obvious that short words are not
actually a spine or heart. He means that these small words are the structure
or spine behind our writing and that they give our writing meaning or
heart. When Lederer uses these forms of figurative language the reader can
better understand what he is talking about and see it from a different angle.
4. For years and years teachers have pushed students to use advanced and
longer words in their writing. But shorter words are the first words we ever
learned and are the ones we know best. So when we are able to write shorter
words that can still be just as meaningful it takes off much stress in writing
and makes writing feel more comfortable. This idea is part of the purpose
behind Lederers essay. Lederer believes it is okay to use short words and
many times shorter words are better than longer words.
5. In the last paragraph Lederer basically tells the reader that they too should
use small words whenever they want. He also gets personal and pushes the

reader and tells them yes you can do this. His purpose is to encourage
readers to write short, monosyllable words more often instead of many
polysyllable words.
6. For an extended period of time my family cruised along the ocean and finally
arrived to a wide bay beyond the corner of a small mountain, and at the end
was a little city. My familys extended watercraft adventure coming to a halt,
we all exercised our limbs and stood vertically to see the watercraft arrive to
its destination. The city climbed up the little mountain that arose from the
ocean, an area in front of it had nothing so that the watercrafts could park.
When comparing this to the writing of Celia Wren you can tell that her writing
flows much better and that it makes more sense than having much longer
words in it. Some writing is better when used with short words.