Write simply

As a child, I feared writing essays. Even at 30, I still woke up panicked from dreaming about essay exams.

Because my family spoke Chinese and Singlish at home, my English was weak. Reading my friends' essays made me feel worse. They used complicated sentences I could barely understand. For many years, I thought I was just not good enough.

But gradually I learned that the problem is how working adults write. Teachers, academics, and business people write complicated sentences to sound smart. So, we assume we should write in the same way. William Zinsser gave an example in Writing to Learn:

Consider these two sentences from a book by a famous sociologist. I didn't choose them as exceptions; the whole book is in this style.

The third major component of modeling phenomena involves the utilization of symbolic representations of modeled patterns in the form of imaginal and verbal contents to guide overt performances. It is assumed that reinstatement of representational schemes provides a basis for self-instruction on how component responses must be combined and sequenced to produce new patterns of behavior.

Younger me would have thought this is great writing—mostly because I don't understand it. But it's the opposite: If people can't understand your writing, it is bad writing.

Zinsser gave another two examples:

1. The ongoing reconfiguration positions Barbara offsite to hopefully identify growth and profitability potentials beyond what is currently being realized.
2. Barbara will try to find out why we ain't doing better.

I write like the second sentence (with a little more polish). And I used to feel bad about it. But Zinsser wrote, "Number two is a little uneducated but a lot more helpful."

Eventually, I realized my limited English could be an advantage. Haruki Murakami developed his unique writing style when he tried writing in English. His limited vocabulary forced him to write simple, short sentences. That led him to discover he didn't have to try to impress people with difficult words.

I now embrace writing in simple English, even as my English has improved. I don't write to look wise. I write to share my experiences and ideas with others. So, I write in a way most people can understand.

If you want to persuade others or spread your ideas, write simply.