Jargon and Plain Language
Jargon is not always bad. Specialist terms can be precise and efficient when everyone in the room shares them. The problem is using specialist language with an audience who does not, or using complexity to sound authoritative. This page shows how to translate without distorting.
When jargon helps and when it excludes
| Situation | Jargon is useful | Jargon is a barrier |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Experts who share the term. | General audience or newcomers. |
| Purpose | Precision matters more than accessibility. | Understanding matters more than display. |
| Frequency | The term is used once and defined. | Every sentence is dense with acronyms. |
| Stakes | Everyone needs the exact technical meaning. | People may stop listening or feel excluded. |
The test is not “Is this word simple?” but “Does this audience need this word to understand the idea?” If the answer is no, replace it or define it.
Common kinds of jargon
| Type | Example | Plain-language move |
|---|---|---|
| Technical term | “Photosynthesis” | Define it once, then use it. |
| Acronym | “The NAPLAN results ...” | Say the full name first. |
| Nominalisation | “The implementation of the policy ...” | “When the policy was introduced ...” |
| Bureaucratic phrasing | “Prior to the commencement ...” | “Before we start ...” |
| Vague abstraction | “A range of stakeholders ...” | Name the people. |
| Euphemism | “Letting people go ...” | “Sacking workers ...” if that is the meaning. |
| In-group shorthand | “The usual process ...” | Describe the process. |
Plain language is not simplistic language
Plain language preserves complexity of thought while reducing unnecessary complexity of expression. It does not remove necessary precision. “The treatment reduces the risk of stroke” is plain and precise. “The treatment makes you healthy” is plain and false.
| Dense | Plain | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| “The utilisation of renewable energy sources has experienced significant growth.” | “More people are using renewable energy.” | Active verb; fewer abstract nouns. |
| “Participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement.” | “We asked people whether they agreed.” | Direct address; shorter sentence. |
| “The implementation timeline is contingent upon consultation.” | “We will start after we consult the people affected.” | Names the actors and the order. |
| “There is a possibility of precipitation.” | “It might rain.” | Removes nominalisation and padding. |
Sentence length and rhythm
Spoken sentences need to be shorter than written ones because the listener cannot re-read. But a speech made entirely of short sentences sounds choppy. Vary the length: a short sentence after a long one creates emphasis. Read the draft aloud and mark where you run out of breath.
- One idea per sentence.
- Put the subject and verb close together.
- Use active voice unless the actor is unknown or unimportant.
- Keep modifiers near the word they modify.
- Replace nominalisations with verbs where possible.
- Read aloud; if you stumble, rewrite.
Defining terms
Define a term the first time it appears, in a way the audience can use. A definition can be a synonym, a category, a contrast or an example.
| Method | Example | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym | “A habitat is a home.” | Everyday terms. |
| Category | “A marsupial is a mammal that carries its young in a pouch.” | Classification. |
| Contrast | “Weather is what happens today; climate is the pattern over decades.” | Common confusions. |
| Example | “A protocol is a set of rules, like the rule that says ‘after you’ in a radio call.” | Abstract systems. |
| Process | “Evaporation is when liquid water becomes vapour.” | Mechanisms. |
Acronyms
Say the full term first, then the acronym: “the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, or ASIO”. If the audience will hear the acronym only once, do not use it at all. If the acronym is more familiar than the full term, use the acronym and gloss it briefly.
Editing for the ear
- Read the paragraph aloud once.
- Underline every word you would not say in conversation.
- Replace or define each one.
- Split sentences longer than about twenty-five words.
- Remove throat-clearing: “It is important to note that ...”, “In terms of ...”.
- Read it aloud again. Does it sound like a person speaking?
Activity: translate a paragraph
Original: “The objective of the initiative is to facilitate the enhancement of student digital literacy capabilities through the provision of targeted professional learning opportunities for teaching staff.”
Plain version: “The program aims to improve students’ digital skills by training teachers.”
Ask: Who does what? To whom? Why? Answer those questions and the sentence usually becomes clearer.
Common errors
- Equating jargon with intelligence. Complexity is not credibility.
- Over-simplifying. Do not remove a distinction the audience needs.
- Defining too late. Define a term before it is used, not after.
- Acronym soup. Three acronyms in one sentence is too many.
- Reading an essay aloud. Spoken language needs shorter sentences and more repetition.
- Patronising the audience. Explain clearly, not condescendingly.
Next, study visual aids and data to apply the same clarity to images and numbers. The demonstrating a process page applies it to live action.