Skip to content

And don't confound the language of the nation with…

“And don't confound the language of the nation with long-tail'd words in osity and ation.” quote by John Hookham Frere
Download Open image
“And don't confound the language of the nation with long-tail'd words in osity and ation.”

John Hookham Frere

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote warns against confusing national language with overly complex, obscure words that sound pretentious.

In simple terms: Avoid using pretentious, overly complex words.

Key Takeaway

Prefer clear, plain language.

Themes

communication clarity language pretension

Mood

critical reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • public speaking
  • writing
  • teaching
  • media
  • political discourse

Key Concepts

linguistics sociolinguistics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does word choice affect audience perception?
  • When is elaborate language appropriate?
A Different Perspective

Complex language can alienate audiences and obscure meaning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by John Hookham Frere

Explore all 4 John Hookham Frere quotes

More Language quotes

Browse all 21,951 Language quotes