難しい英単語やイディオム、複雑な構文をすらすらと話したり、メールで難なく使いこなす人を見ると「カッコいい！」と思いますよね。そして、自分もそんなふうに英語を使いこなしてみようと、メールや会話の中に覚えたての構文やフレーズを加えてみたり。

しかし、もしそれらを多用することで、メールの文章が複雑で長文になったり、話しが相手にすぐに理解してもらえないようであれば、今すぐあなたの英語を『シンプル』にする必要があります。

もちろん、自分の持つ知識を意のままに使いこなせるのは素晴らしいことですが、あまりに難しい表現や場にそぐわない単語を日常会話で使うと、英語ネイティブは首を傾げてしまうのです。
つまり、日常の場面で彼らと円滑なコミュニケーションを図るならば、なるべくシンプルな単語や表現を使うようにするべきです。

実はあなたの英語も、知らないうちに相手を混乱させているかも？今回は、シンプルで伝わりやすい英語を使いこなす方法について学んでいきましょう。

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When you’re learning a new language, it’s common to want to show off your new skills—and you should! But sometimes, that means using as many big words and complex sentences as possible.

The problem is that when your English (spoken or written) is too formal, it can sound unnatural. On top of that, too many big words or complicated phrases can make your message hard to understand.

Instead, you should express yourself in a clear and straightforward way. If you really know what you’re talking about, you can speak plainly and still get your point across.

Below, we’ll explore how you can avoid overly complex, formal English for better communication.

How to simplify your English
1. Use contractions

You might think that avoiding contractions makes you sound more professional. In reality, if you never use contractions, you’ll end up sounding kind of robotic.

To sound more natural, make sure to include at least some contractions in your writing or speech.

Consider this:

If you cannot come tonight, I will not see you until I have returned from my vacation. I do not know if I will be able to wait that long!

Versus this:

If you can’t come tonight, I won’t see you until I’ve returned from my vacation. I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long!

See the difference? The first sentence sounds a little less natural than the second.

While you don’t need to use contractions constantly, it’s a good idea to occasionally add them in, whether you’re speaking or writing.

2. Keep it active

Many people (native speakers and learners alike) overuse passive voice. Rather than making you sound more intelligent, it can make your message too wordy and harder to understand.

There are situations where passive voice is useful (like if you don’t know who performed a particular action, e.g., “My car was stolen!”). But in general, it’s not really necessary.

Instead, try to use active voice—it’s much clearer.

So, rather than saying:

When I got home, I saw that dinner had been cooked by my husband.

You could say:

When I got home, I saw that my husband had cooked dinner.

Better, isn’t it?

3. Avoid technical jargon

Sometimes, the use of technical words is perfectly appropriate—in various work situations, for instance. But using too many complicated technical expressions in everyday communication often isn’t a good thing.

The point of communication is for others to understand your message; if you’re using words that most people don’t know, you risk confusing your listener and losing their attention. So keep technical jargon out of your everyday conversations!

4. Aim for simpler sentences

Our final point is about keeping your spoken and written sentences as straightforward and simple as you can (without losing your meaning, of course).

Have a look at this sentence:

It is possible to obtain a prescription through your healthcare provider.

Now, here’s a simpler version:

You can get a prescription from your doctor.

Can you see how the two sentences above have basically the same meaning? There’s no need to get complicated!

Keep it simple

There’s a time and place for more formal language: in professional documents or in a courtroom setting, for example.

But everyday English is different.

To be well understood, make sure to use contractions, avoid passive voice, cut down on technical jargon, and simplify your sentences. You’ll be communicating clearly in no time!

引用：Simplify Your Everyday English for Better Communication / Andrea Byaruhanga

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いかがでしたか？特に、日本人が使ってしまいがちな「受動態」が、消極的でくどく受け取られるというのは驚きだったのではないでしょうか。

あなたの伝えたいことをよく理解してもらうためには、短縮形を使用し、受動態を避け、専門用語を減らし、文章をシンプルにすることを心がけましょう。まずはこれらのポイントをおさえることで、相手によく理解してもらえるコミュニケーションがすぐに取れるようになるでしょう。