⧉ The problem with jargon
Welcome to the sixteenth issue of OVERLAP ⧉
The problem with jargon
I’ve been condensing what I know about work-related writing into an accelerator of sorts. For the past three weeks, a cohort of my colleagues have listened to me ramble on about storytelling, structure, and sentences. A few days ago, I was popping off about jargon and clichés — and how we should avoid using them whenever possible — when a question came up: Shouldn’t we use words and phrases that readers recognize?
In this example, the phrase in question was “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” and the context was an op-ed intended for a national audience. It’s true that many English speakers know this idiom, but who might be excluded? Jargon, clichés, and idioms aren’t just lazy writing — they are evidence of assumptions writers make about their audiences. Did you assume your reader’s first language is English? Did you assume your reader comes from the same socio-economic background you do? Did you assume your reader has had specific education and work experiences? Did you assume your reader has small children and is bathing them in a bucket?
We eventually settled on this guideline: Used sparingly with niche audiences, jargon can give writers a chance to wink at their readers and demonstrate authority in a topic area — but should never come at the cost of accessibility and original thought. Considered word choices can help diverse audiences see themselves in a story; thoughtfully crafted phrases can make the difference between exclusion and equity. We should be writing like the future of our industry depends on it.
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Auntie Jess recommends:
Interrogating the language of space and science. The Atlantic’s Marina Koren explains why “manned” spaceflight doesn’t make sense.
No Time to Spare. This book of Ursula K. Le Guin‘s essays was perfect for reading on a short weekend flight.
The Canadian photographer who first picked up a camera at age 60. Thelma Pepper just turned 99, and her work is remarkable. It’s never too late.
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Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear from you — hit reply to share your favorite words, essays, inspiring older women, or anything else that’s on your mind.
Until next time,
Jessica
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