How to use jargon effectively, responsibly, and inclusively

Most of us have heard that jargon is terrible. Is it really so terrible? And is there any way to use jargon well?

For those of you who just want to know what to do, here are my tips on how to use jargon effectively, responsibly, and inclusively.

Defining jargon

So, why is jargon is so reviled? And what do we mean by jargon anyway? Merriam-Webster defines jargon as:

1: the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group: sports jargon

2: obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words: an academic essay filled with jargon

“jargon,” Merriam-Webster.com

Useful jargon

When we look at the first definition, we can see that jargon can be useful.

Jargon is often used to represent complex ideas (I also call this kind of jargon “technical terms” in this post). They’re a shorthand that people in a particular group (e.g., academics in the same specialization, development professionals in the same field or office) can use to communicate efficiently with each other.

Academic Pauline Jerrentrup puts it nicely:

academic language aims to be precise by using specialized vocabulary and terms to describe complex and abstract ideas. It is usually targeted at a specialized audience, assuming some prior knowledge. Therefore, while seemingly lengthy and complicated, it helps to effectively convey specific knowledge to a specific audience within a certain context.

Pauline Jerrentrup, “Who Knows What? The Pitfalls of Academic Jargon,” 14 March 2023.

Jargon also signals to others that you are a member of a group. Using technical terms can help boost our credibility with peers and experts. It’s a big reason why many of us use jargon: we want to be accepted as a member of a respected group.

And in fact, research by the Norman Nielsen Group (NN/g) suggests that when writing for experts, using carefully chosen technical language helps you communicate more effectively. It signals to your audience of experts that you are writing for them.

Pitfalls of jargon

The problem is jargon of the second kind, what Merriam-Webster calls “obscure and often pretentious language.”

It excludes

First of all, using such words excludes those who don’t understand them. That may not be a concern if those readers are not your intended audience. But remember, most people won’t be as familiar with all the terms in your niche field as you.

NN/g (in the same article) reminds us

If you write for new members of the field or people completing their education, they may not be familiar with all basic concepts and terminology.

Norman Nielsen Group (NN/g), “Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts,” 23 April 2017.

Be careful you don’t exclude the very people you want to reach.

For an interesting take on language exclusion, check out “Inheriting Outsiderness” by Gregory Warner.

It confuses

Carelessly used jargon impedes understanding. Jargon is often vague—we may assume that everyone knows what it means because the term might be used often, but does everyone understand, really? When you hear buzzwords like ecosystem and solutions, do you know exactly what they refer to?

Even with technical words, young professionals or those new to the field might not have a firm grasp of what’s being discussed, but they often don’t feel comfortable asking for clarification and are left to muddle on the best they can. And even “experts will have difficulty remembering the exact definitions of terms they don’t use frequently,” notes NN/g (same article as before).

Get your message across clearly to your readers by removing or limiting the jargon that can confuse them.

It can be “lazy” writing

Too often, we use jargon as a way to fudge (hide) the fact that we actually aren’t sure of what we’re trying to say. We might see a term often and have a vague idea of what it encompasses, so we might use that term in our writing—often hidden in a list of similar terms. But that only conveys the vagueness. That’s not effective writing.

When we write, we first must know what we want to say. And then we can try to express ourselves in a way that helps our intended readers easily understand our message. It’s not easy. But tossing in jargon just because it vaguely seems to be right is lazy. Instead, ask yourself: “What is it that I actually want to say?” Use specifics and make the idea concrete.

It’s plain irritating 😀

Personally, I find a lot of business jargon plain irritating. Marketing and promotional writing offer all too many examples of buzzwords that may look/sound sophisticated or impressive but are often devoid of meaning (check out the “Related” articles below). I read the words but am left with no idea of what they mean.

Find better, more effective words to communicate your message. And don’t irritate your readers.

Related

There are a ton of online articles on jargon. Here are two thoughtful takes on using jargon:

• Mike Pope, “Good Jargon and Bad Jargon,” 24 March 2020.
• Pat Thompson, “Using Jargon,” 6 March 2023.

Jargon in business and marketing

• Liam Gray, “Negative Effects of Jargon in Content Marketing,” BlendB2B.com, 22 September 2020.
• James Tennant, “‘Bespoke Solutions’—and Other Business Jargon That You Need to Avoid at All Costs,” Converge, 21 September 2022.
• Geoffrey James, “9 Marketing Messages That Turn Customers Off,” Inc.com, 8 June 2016.
• Suzanne Lucas, “The 24 Worst Business Buzzwords of 2024,” Inc.com, 7 June 2024.

Do you have examples of jargon that you love or hate? Share in the comments!

Cover image by James Bong from Pixabay.