?? Get to the point: language to avoid

Imagine you get an email from your coworker:

Hey! I wanted to bring to your attention an unanticipated collaborative discrepancy in procedural interpretation and execution that occurred during our recent project. I believe this minor divergence in our communication channels may have contributed to the outcome we observed last Monday.

You're annoyed, confused, and wish they were more concise about what it is they want to achieve. They wouldn't have said it like this in person.

A better way to say this would've been:

Hey! Can I schedule time for us to talk more about the hiccup that happened last week and how we can solve it?

The end.

Being long-winded is a great way to lose your audience. In today's lesson, we'll talk about how to be clear by getting to the point and avoiding certain language.

Walls of text are digital rambling

No one wants to listen to someone ramble and no one wants to read your wall of text. Jargon, long-winded terms, and out-of-date expressions throws people off and pushes away readers.

Words are the building blocks of sentences, and sentences are the building blocks of your work. If your words are unnecessarily long and difficult, your sentences will be too, leading to writing that nobody wants to read. Strong writers focus on clarity and simplicity, and ensure that their ideas are communicated as brief and straightforward as possible.

Language to avoid

Writers should always avoid language that unnecessarily complicates their work. These include jargon, long-winded terms, and out-of-date expressions. Each of these language pitfalls can obscure meaning, confuse readers, and ultimately weaken the impact of your writing.

• Jargon refers to the specialized language used by a particular group. While it may be useful within that group, it can alienate or confuse a broader audience. When jargon is used unnecessarily, it creates a barrier between the writer and the reader and complicates the message.
• Longwinded terms are phrases or clauses that could be expressed in one or two words. For example, instead of saying “due to the fact that,” say “because.” Longwinded terms make sentences unnecessarily lengthy, which obscures the main point. They make your writing long, less engaging, and harder for readers to follow.
• Out-of-date expressions are words or phrases that have fallen out of common use. They can make your writing sound old-fashioned or pretentious, which detracts from the clarity and immediacy of your message. Using modern, straightforward language helps ensure that your writing resonates with an audience in 2024.

What's a word or phrase someone's used that makes you roll your eyes? Share them in the comments.