What Is Jargon and Why Is It Bad in Life Science Marketing? (Or Is It?)

Ah, jargon. To English teachers and discerning writers, it forms the third leg of an evil axis. Passive voice, clichés, jargon — it doesn’t get any worse than that.

Jargon gets this bad rap because it has become equated with a particular kind of language that runs rampant in boardrooms and on videoconferences. You know the kind I’m talking about. Inflated, pretentious, showy. It’s meant to impress with intelligence, but it often confounds understanding.

Jargon has a different side, though. It also refers to the specialized vocabulary and language used by a particular trade, profession, or group. In this sense, jargon isn’t bad at all. It functions as a shorthand code among experts, expediting communication and forming a foundation for newer, better ideas.

So how do you know when jargon is good or bad? Is it okay in technical fields but bad in business? What about in life science marketing? Should you avoid it at all costs? And if you use a workaround, will it help or hinder communication?

To answer these questions, let’s start at the beginning.