ULiveandLearn.com -

Login    Contact    Home   
November 20, 2008
 
Member Login
Join for Free
Community & Forums
Learning Centers
RSS FEEDS
Bookmark and Share
Google Custom Search
Visit our Business Writing Center at http://www.uliveandlearn.com/writingcenter/index.cfm

Business Writing Tips from The Writing Center


Avoid Jargon and Pompous Wording
August 23, 2007

Jargon is the special vocabulary of a trade or group. Pompous wording is unnecessarily difficult vocabulary selected to impress the reader. What harm do jargon and pompous wording do, as in the following example?

         The biota exhibited 100% mortality response.

All readers have egos. They may be too embarrassed to admit that they don't know the terms or words, especially if they think they should know them. So they may act on what they think you said rather than on what you did say. The result could be costly errors.

Readers are busy. If your message is not readily understood, they may not take the time to figure it out; they'll do what they think you said to do--or, ignore the message.

One third of business documents aren't understood by intended readers. How do you ensure that readers understand your message even when you must use specialized vocabulary? To answer that question, next week we'll explore how to translate technical terms.


This edition was adapted from our Effective Business Writing Program. Previous editions may be read at http://www.uliveandlearn.com/newsletters/index.cfm.


To receive this free weekly newsletter via e-mail, go to http://www.uliveandlearn.com/userjoin.cfm and select the newsletter option.

Return now to the Business Communications Library

Home |  Help |  Who We Are |  Bookmark and Share

ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES
Copyright © 2000 - 2008 by ULiveandLearn.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Your use of this site means that you have read and accept our terms of use.