Find out if your fundraising writing is too “Latin”

Here’s another interesting writing tool: the Latinometer.

Most English words have either Germanic or Latin roots. Germanic-root words tend to be shorter, simpler, and pack more emotional punch. Latin-root words are longer and more intellectual. Think about the difference between the Germanic guts and the Latinate intestines.

The Latinometer looks at the origins of the words you use and reveals the percentage of Latinate words you use. It diagnoses your writing according to these levels:

• 20% Latinate and below: You see the world in concrete terms
  
• 20% to 35%: You sound educated
  
• 35% to 60%: You sound pretentious
  
• 60% and above: You are probably lying
  

Fundraising writing should stay below 30% Latinate most of the time. (I find it a struggle to push it below 20%.)

Thanks to Language Log for the tip.