How do you use plain language and avoid jargon in your content?

Your audience may not come from your professional background. Write and speak in a simple language that involves no special skill to understand than just listening. Avoiding complexity in your expression is a good way to take off.

I like to think of plain language as creating a 'communication highway.' Consider road signs: they use simple symbols, short phrases, and clear fonts, enabling drivers to understand quickly and react accordingly. Similarly, using plain language in your communications makes it easy for readers to understand your message right away and take the appropriate action. It's like giving them a map where your point is the destination - no detours, no getting lost in complexities, just a straight, clear route to comprehension. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of your message but also respects your reader's time and cognitive load.

In my experience, using plain language and avoiding jargon in content is essential to ensure clarity, accessibility, and understanding, particularly for a diverse audience. Some effective strategies to do so are: 1. Break content into short, concise sentences and paragraphs to improve readability and comprehension. Use bullet points, lists, and headings to organize information and make it easier for readers to scan and digest. 2. Minimize the use of acronyms and abbreviations, as they can be confusing to readers, especially those who may not be familiar with the terms. 3. Test your content for readability using readability tools or formulas such as the Flesch-Kincaid readability tests.

Research shows that *everyone* understands plain language better. I want to break down what "logical" organizing of language means a bit further. It can mean: - expressing one thought per sentence or phrase. - using lists (like this one) - using your language's basic sentence structure. In English, basic structure means Subject Verb Object (SVO), e.g., The dog is brown The person has brown hair The child is reading a book

Write how you speak, unless you speak like a robot. Think about your younger self. How would you explain what you know now without the benefit of understanding all the fancy terms? Write what would help your former self.

Understanding jargon means recognizing when it bridges gaps and when it widens them. To keep content inclusive, imagine explaining your topic to a friend who's not in your field. This shift in perspective often highlights unnecessary complexity. Research suggests clear communication not only boosts comprehension but also trust and engagement. By consciously swapping complex terms for simpler alternatives, we make our message accessible to a broader audience. Remember, clarity is the goal, not simplifying to the point of inaccuracy. Aim to enlighten, not oversimplify.

It's always best when you are presenting or creating any kind of documentation for a larger audience to limit the use of jargon or slang words. Unless you've grown up with a language you will not understand some of these words and many times people are embarrassed to ask what the word means. So always spell out the word or use it in its simplest form.

Jargon is like using fancy words or technical language that might be hard for people who aren't experts in a certain field to understand.

In any new environment there is a likelihood that there will be language you don't understand. If you work in an inclusive culture where you have psychological safety you should feel safe in calling this out. Many companies now have a glossary of frequently used terms and technical language on their intranet which can help. If you are writing reports, perhaps use footnotes, or again a glossary in the introduction or appendices. If you truly want to foster inclusivity then don't do something that will automatically exclude the full participation of people before you even get started.

In-group jargon (also known as slang) can be very useful in building group cohesion. Unfortunately, it excludes those considered outsiders. However, used mindfully, it is also a powerful tool for inclusion. You can include newcomers to your group by purposefully explaining in-group jargon to them. Also, you can build community by - adopting words invented by members as part of existing in-group jargon - coming up with new words together

You can miss out to deliver the point and waste your important points due to lack of relevance. As a DEI consultant and event host, I constantly need to translate jargon, jokes to help "get the point" from local to global audience and vice versa. Consider a headache pill. Most often it is branded as Burana in Finland, Ipren in Denmark and perhaps Tylenol in the US. Using it as example in one's storytelling or presentation does no good to audience, if they don't know. To make the message more accessible and understood "stakeholder" map your audience, are they insiders, outsiders, from the city, country, region, language etc. Test the message with your employee resource groups or a friend who is not in the "loop"!

Plain language is also deeply tied to justice and democracy. When all people are able to access information, they can make informed choices. Using complex language excludes groups such as - migrants - people with learning disabilities - those with mental health problems. In other words, not using plain language is, at worst, xenophobic and ablist.

It matters because, on one hand, jargon helps condense significance, while plain language helps convey the message to a broader and more diverse audience. Paying attention to your audience is of significant importance.

I do raising awareness sessions around the topics of 'belonging', 'inclusion' and 'lgbtq+'. I know that I am around the terminology everyday and even I find new descriptors all the time. Therefore, i aim to take audiences on the journey with me by including some fun, easy ways of remembering terminolgy and giving people the space and security to ask questions if they are not sure. You can be sure that there is someone in every session that has not understood all the language and if I'm aiming for inclusion I need to make sure they walk away with exactly what they want to know.

Plain language breaks barriers; it's as simple as that. Imagine the doors you open when everyone can grasp your message, regardless of their background. Studies show that clear communication boosts engagement by up to 50%. That's huge! Now, jargon has its place, especially when you're talking shop with industry insiders. But outside that circle? It's just noise. So, mix it up—use technical terms sparingly and only where they add real value. Think of it this way: Your content is a bridge, not a gate. Let's make sure it connects, not confines.

A few easy-to-implement ways to incorporate plain language in your content are: - Avoid using abbreviations as much as possible! They can mean something different for everyone, especially if they come from a different industry, country, or cultural background. - Avoid writing very long and complicated sentences. - Use bullet points or short paragraphs to convey information, tasks, and to-dos.

A great "jargon check" method is to imagine reading your content to your grandmom. ? If you told her your company is "the number one platform for business leaders and People Ops to measure KPIs and OKRs completion" she probably won't have a clue what you're talking about. ? Describing it as an "online tool to set and keep track of goals for your team members so they know what to focus on and what success looks like" might be easier to understand. Even when you're communicating with your peers communicating with plain language is more inclusive. Some might not be as fluent in your jargon depending on their seniority, native language, and familiarity with your niche.

I organise plain language workshops and trainings. Finnish participants tend to struggle with passive voice, e.g. - The report will be written. - The defendant received an unfair sentence. - When leaving, the door should be locked. Always tell the reader 'who' is performing an action: - Jan will write the report. - The judge gave the defendant an unfair sentence. - When you leave, lock the door.

Understanding your audience boosts content relatability—85% of readers prefer conversational over formal language. Focus on the 'why' to guide your writing, ensuring messages hit home. Short, active sentences engage more than complex jargon. Think of your content as a friendly chat, where clarity wins and every reader feels valued.

Linguistic supersizing is on the increase. Yes I just used a jargon… no I am not a linguist. The influence of advertising-speak and corporate jargon on language in which everything needs to be hyped to get noticed is now the new form of communication. In the attempt to localize it, we creating barriers. And It also means that some of our greatest words are losing their power. Keeping it simple has always been seen most influential. One quick way of doing that is making short sentences and small (not short) words.

Unlocking the power of human-centered communication is critical to avoiding jargon in your content. When crafting your message, envision your audience's perspective, stepping into their shoes to understand their level of knowledge and interests. Tailor your language accordingly, shedding unnecessary technical terms and replacing them with relatable, simple words. Incorporate analogies and metaphors to bridge gaps and make complex concepts tangible. Involve your target audience by seeking feedback, ensuring your content resonates and adds genuine value to their understanding.

Keep it Simple and don’t assume When writing a piece the most important thing to consider is who is it for. What is the objective I.e how will it help this set of audience. Once you know this you would also understand what level of information you need to go to and how to structure it. Avoid abbreviations as far as possible. It’s also very cultural and based on your setting. Eg the other day I used the term Poc somewhere it’s interchangeably used as a point of contact or also a proof of concept but someone also highlighted it could mean person of colour ??so best to avoid and assume it’s widely used so people would know it. The same abbreviation could mean so many things in so many contexts or places.

Knowing your audience will help you tailor your message accordingly. Also, avoiding assumptions. When uncertainty exists, it's best to keep it simple and possibly use images to convey information. Storytelling, when properly applied, engages the audience.

I believe it's ok to use jargon in your content as long as you are also sharing what it means in parentheses so that your audience if they don't know the word can learn it.

To ensure inclusivity and avoid jargon, it's essential to frame content in familiar concepts rather than introducing new terminology. Instead of teaching people unfamiliar words, I leverage terms and ideas they already understand. Relating new concepts to everyday experiences helps bridge understanding. For instance, explain complex ideas using analogies or real-life examples that resonate with a broad audience. This approach ensures that content is accessible to a diverse audience without excluding those unfamiliar with specialised language, fostering a more inclusive and understandable communication style.