vocabulary - Should I use 10 cent words or $2 words?

In school, I learned to use 10 cent words, so instead of saying: (updated: from a paper that says a scientist doing experiment with fish would make it complicated to say:)

All biota exhibited 100% mortality rate.

just say:

All fish died.

which is plain and simple, and gets the idea across, so that people understand what you are saying. But in the real world, time and time again, verbally or written, I see people higher up purposefully using $2 words, to convey that they are educated, and to convey they can use difficult words that you don't understand, and suggest possibly they can do things that other people cannot, so they have power over you (maybe to write something like that to the CEO or board of directors, and if you are against him, the board of director probably won't believe you or not on your side when you write something all with 10 cents words versus his $2 words every where).

So, was I too naive to believe "use 10 cent words"? The world may not be simply about "getting ideas across"? What might be an more accurate descriptions of "use of 10 cent words versus $2 words?"

Answer

It depends on your motives. Are you trying to impress or are you trying to communicate?

As phenry noted, people who use the $2 words are trying to impress, usually both themselves and someone else. Sometimes playing politics is necessary if you want to advance. Many are not even aware that they are not communicating. They try so hard to be impressive that they fail to be useful. Unfortunately, if the rest of the people around them are the same, only those who impress will advance.

If you want to communicate, write as simply as possible, but no simpler. Know your audience, and write to them.