[Flint]

Long time ago, in Readers Digest so it had to come from someplace else, there was a very small article that had three columns of obscure words. The deal was that when you wrote something that you wanted to be impressive you would choose one word from each column and insert it in a sentence. It made no difference where you inserted the three word phrase in the sentence.

The phrase you created made no sense of any kind, just a string of highfalutin words that were supposed to make you look intelligent.

I think Chelsea must have run across the article.

[RegulatorCountry]

I was always taught that in management you use “nickel words” to make sure you’re understood by all, and to seem down to earth. People use multi-syllabic “dollar words” when trying to impress, or trying to obscure. This excludes technical terms for which there are no synonyms, of course.

[FreedomPoster]

I took a business writing course in college (a long time ago!) that included a guest speaker who handed out a 3-circle spinner thing that did that. It was hilarious, and intended to be, while teaching you to not be intentionally obfuscatory. He’s still around, and there’s an online version.

Here’s the old school analog device
http://horton.com/consulting/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CohenDialABuzzwordLarge.jpg

Modern online version
http://horton.com/consulting/portfolio/cohen/buzzword.htm

About the creator
http://horton.com/additional-resources/buzzword-generator/
“Here is Gerry Cohen, arch-enemy of gobbledygook and crusader for clear writing”