Jargon: where did it come from and how do we fix it? – A Thousand Monkeys

You’ve written your latest webpage, sales email or perhaps a report. Your coworkers are impressed. Your boss loves it. But it flops. Your reader feels confused by all the jargon, and perhaps a little alienated.

So what went wrong? How do you figure out what words to use? Where’s the line between technical or professional language and jargon?

What is jargon?

Ask Google to define jargon and you’ll get this answer:

“Special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand.”

We’d go one step further and change the first bit to “secret code”. Jargon words and phrases baffle anyone outside the sector or community. In the workplace, jargon might help to create a sense of belonging, but when it comes to openness and inclusivity, it can become a real problem.Jargon is a bit more complicated than just inside language though. It serves so many purposes and comes in so many forms, that you probably won’t even realise you’re using it.

Continue reading the full article here from A Thousand Monkeys