Philanthropic

One morning, I was comfortably nestled in a corner of the Mayor’s office, working away in one of the towns I’d been assigned to. The municipal councilor, filling in for the Mayor while he was away on an official trip, was deep in conversation with some employees. As they discussed something important (I’m sure it was), a group of students walked in, carrying a white envelope. Inside that envelope was a solicitation letter.

The councilor opened the letter, read it aloud, and the room fell silent. Everyone – including myself – was listening intently. But suddenly, his voice faltered when he stumbled upon a word: philanthropic. He paused, looked up, and asked the students what it meant. The students exchanged glances, their faces turning a little red, and smiled sheepishly. They couldn’t provide an answer.

So, the councilor, testing their knowledge, turned to the employees for help. But to his dismay, they were all too busy pretending to work. Those who couldn’t find something to look occupied with simply smiled awkwardly. The whole room had become a sea of silence.

Now, here's the twist: the councilor actually knew what philanthropic meant. It wasn’t a lapse in his vocabulary; it was more of a test to see if anyone else in the room understood the meaning of the word. And, well, it became pretty clear that no one did.

This little incident made me realize something we all do from time to time – we use big, impressive-sounding words, often without taking a moment to check if we really understand their meaning. Sure, they may sound good, but can we truly grasp the message we’re trying to convey? In this case, the councilor’s question about philanthropic was met with silence, highlighting how even a well-meaning test of knowledge can lead to a few awkward moments.

It’s an interesting observation, though: sometimes we think that using complex words makes us sound more intelligent or professional. In reality, it can create confusion, even when the person speaking is completely confident. The truth is, sometimes simple is best.

In technical writing, especially when you’re trying to communicate with a broad audience, the goal is clarity. Your message should be clear, direct, and easy to understand. The moment you throw in jargon or complicated terms, you risk losing your audience – even if you think it makes you sound smarter.

The irony, of course, is that we sometimes use these terms thinking it will elevate our communication. But as we saw in the Mayor’s office, the word philanthropic – though perfectly well-known to the councilor – caused confusion simply because it wasn’t something that most people encounter on a daily basis. And in that moment, the lesson was clear: communication is about making sure everyone is on the same page.

So next time you’re crafting that email or writing up a report, try to keep it simple. Your point will come across stronger, and your audience will appreciate it. After all, you could use philanthropic in your next conversation, but maybe check if everyone around you knows what it means – or at least be prepared for a room full of awkward smiles.

In the end, let’s aim to communicate in a way that builds connection rather than confusion. Simple, clear, and thoughtful communication is the way to go – and it just might make you sound even more professional than using that fancy philanthropic term!