J.I.P. Writing (Jargon in Professional Writing) By: Ann-Marie Navidomskis

Jargon procures the potentiality to convolute and impede a lucid record and metamorphosize and mutate it into something far more confusing and intangible; this will bedevil your desired audience.

If you didn’t enjoy reading the preceding sentence, questioned reading further, and found yourself needing to read it multiple times to understand it don’t feel bad; that is the effect jargon, or “highly specialized slang that is unique to an occupational group[1]”, can have. For the majority of the population who didn’t receive a perfect score on the vocabulary section of the SAT sentences such as the first one you read in this document cause unpleasantness, confusion, are belittling, and don’t make sense. It is for these reasons that using jargon in your professional writing is an idea on the lesser end of the professional writing idea spectrum.

Jargon does not only have to be “unique to an occupational group.” Jargon can also be cultural idioms, acronyms, uncommon words or phrases, slang, and informal language. The use of jargon should be restricted only to those who are within the particular “field” and only utilized within informalities such as speech, informal memos, and e-mails within a company.

Avoiding jargon is especially important when it comes to intercultural communication. Because it’s impossible to know all of the world’s idioms and connotations great care is needed when writing personal and professional e-mails. Often times the reader of an intercultural exchange will not be a native speaker of your language and not only could misunderstand an idiom such as “give me a heads up” but could possibly take offense to it. Consider, also, limiting any acronyms you include in your documents; if the acronym isn’t likely to be present in the abbreviated English-language dictionary that they’ll be using then it should not be utilized.

Next time you feel the need to grab a thesaurus and include some lengthier synonyms for simple words consider this quote:

“Never fear to use little words. Big, long words name little things. All big things have little names, such as life and death, war and peace, dawn, day, night, hope, love, and home. Learn to use little words in a big way.” -Anonymous

Simply put: Jargon can make even the simplest documents and texts complicated; this will annoy your reader. Sometimes the simplest things mean the most. “The most important point about jargon that I want to make, though, is that much of it really is unnecessary and annoying.[2]

[1] "Professional Writing Style." Designsensory (Knoxville, Tennessee) creates web, brand and print design. 30 Mar. 2009 .

[2] "Professional Writing Style." Designsensory (Knoxville, Tennessee) creates web, brand and print design. 30 Mar. 2009 .

[3] Katrina Bishop Blogs. 30 Mar. 2009 .

[4] Write On! 30 Mar. 2009 .