The Curse of Knowledge: The Copywriting Trap That’s Costing You Readers

Have you ever tried explaining something you know well, like how to file taxes, cook a favorite recipe, or fix a Wi-Fi issue, only to see confused people staring at you? You might have said something like, “It’s simple, you just…” before realizing it’s not so simple if you’ve never done it before. That’s the curse of knowledge in action.

In the world of copywriting (which is writing designed to persuade or guide people to take a specific action, such as buying a product or signing up for a service) the curse of knowledge can quietly sabotage your message. It happens when you forget what it’s like not to know something and write from the perspective of an expert and not your reader.

Why does this matter? Because if your audience can’t follow what you’re saying, they won’t stick around long enough to be persuaded. This article will help you understand what the curse of knowledge is, why it’s especially important for copywriters to recognize, and how to avoid falling into its trap.

What Is the Curse of Knowledge?

The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that makes it hard for people who know a lot about a topic to imagine what it’s like for someone who knows little or nothing about it. Once you understand something deeply, your brain stops remembering what it was like before you knew it. As a result, you may assume your audience shares your level of understanding, without realizing it.

This concept was first studied by psychologists in the 1990s, but it’s something most of us experience informally. For example, imagine teaching someone to play a guitar chord. You might say, “Just press your fingers here and strum.” But your student doesn’t know what “here” means, how hard to press, or what a chord is. You’ve skipped steps without realizing it because they seem obvious to you.

In copywriting, the curse of knowledge shows up in a similar way. Writers often use insider language, skip context, or gloss over what seems “basic,” because to them, it is. But to the reader, it might as well be a foreign language. Think of terms like a “lead,” “brand loyalty,” or “DR”. Or when a copywriter writes for another company it’s all those words you don’t understand in the copy. 

So when we talk about this “curse” in copywriting, we’re not being dramatic. It’s a real obstacle that stands between your message and your reader (and ultimately, your sale). And if you want your copy to be clear, effective, and persuasive, you need to know how to spot it, and stop it.

Why the Curse of Knowledge Matters in Copywriting

In copywriting, communication is everything. Your job isn’t to show how much you know. It’s to make sure your reader understands what they need to know, and feels confident enough to take the next step. But when the curse of knowledge creeps in, your writing becomes less about your reader and often more about your own expertise. That disconnect can undermine every word you craft. 

When this happens, several things can go wrong:

• Readers get confused because they don’t understand the terminology.
• They lose interest because the content feels too dense or “not for them.”
• They mistrust the message because it doesn’t speak to their current level or needs.
• They feel overwhelmed by information that isn’t broken down into digestible pieces.
• They don’t take action, which defeats the whole purpose of copywriting.

5 Key Consequences of Writing Under the Curse of Knowledge

These are the downstream effects you’ll see in your audience and your results when your copy gets too “expert.” So let’s break that down into five specific consequences that happen when copywriters let this bias influence their writing:

Drop in Engagement

Using words like “KPIs,” “synergy,” or “UX optimization” might feel normal to you, but readers who are unfamiliar with these terms may feel lost or excluded. You must stay as clear as possible from the jargon or industry terms. Because otherwise visitors skim past your page in seconds when they hit unfamiliar terms or dense passages.

Skipping Necessary Background or Context

When you assume the reader already understands the problem, solution, or process, you miss the chance to guide them clearly from A to B. This is where their stage of awareness comes in. You have to meet them where they’re at to actually get your point across in a way they understand it. If they feel lost, they’ll likely leave.

Too Much Information, Too Fast

Readers need information in manageable steps. And experts often pack their sentences full with information. But if you dump everything you know at once, the readers are more likely to bounce than to buy.

Assuming Motivation or Understanding

Just because a solution excites you doesn’t mean your reader understands why it should matter to them. You have to spell that out. When benefits aren’t spelled out in relatable terms, fewer people complete your CTA.

Reduced Conversion Rates

Ultimately, unclear or overwhelming copy reduces clicks, sign-ups, and sales. Even the most brilliant product can suffer if it’s presented in a way readers don’t “get.” Always think about the question that the reader’s going to ask: “What’s in it for me?”

When your writing assumes too much knowledge, you leave your reader behind. If any of these resonate, don’t worry, identifying the problem is half the battle. The next section will give you concrete tactics to break free from the curse and connect with real readers.

Strategies to Break the Curse

Once you’ve spotted the curse of knowledge in your writing, it’s time to apply practical strategies that help you think and write like a novice. These five approaches will keep your copy clear, focused, and engaging.

Write for the “Naïve User”

Choose a friend or family member who knows nothing about your topic. Imagine explaining each idea to them step by step. So no shortcuts or assumed understanding. Explain every term, every step, and every assumption out loud or on paper, as if they’re asking “But why?” at each turn. Because when you write as if your reader has never encountered the subject before, you force yourself to break ideas down into their simplest components

Use Readability Tools

Readability tools like the Flesch–Kincaid test, Hemingway Editor, or even simple word-count and sentence-length checks are your automated “proofreaders.” They flag long, winding sentences, passive voice, and complex terminology that can alienate beginners. By running your draft through these tools, you get concrete feedback, and you can simplify your copy if and where necessary.

Conduct Quick User-Testing

No matter how many tools you run, there’s no substitute for real human feedback. So share a draft of your copy with someone who has minimal background in the topic, ideally someone who represents your target audience. Ask them to highlight words or sections they don’t understand and change your copy where it’s needed.

Teach Back with the Feynman Technique

After drafting your copy, set it aside and then try to teach the material, in plain language, to a hypothetical student who knows absolutely nothing about it. If you find yourself reverting to technical terms or getting stuck on how to explain a concept clearly, it’s a signal to simplify your copy.

Iterate with Peer Review

Even the most disciplined writer can’t see every blind spot in their own work. That’s where a fresh set of eyes comes in. Invite a colleague or acquaintance, ideally someone outside your immediate field, to review your copy with a critical eye to see where you’ve glossed over the  tiny jargon phrases or leaps in logic.

By adopting these strategies, you’ll gradually shift your mindset from “What can I show off?” to “What does my reader need?” The result is clearer, more persuasive copy that guides even complete beginners smoothly toward your message.

Conclusion

The curse of knowledge is a silent barrier between expert writers and the readers they aim to persuade. By learning to recognize its symptoms (jargon, skipped steps, dense sentences) and by applying clear strategies, you can break free from your own expertise. The result? Copy that speaks directly to beginners, builds trust, and drives action. 

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