Remove Business Jargon From Your Writing
Avoid using business jargon in your writing and stick to clear, everyday words to keep your reader’s attention and make your writing more clear. Jargon can impede understanding and often leads to a lack of readability. In business writing, it's easy to slip into using jargon without realizing it, as using industry jargon and technical terms is a way of displaying your confidence with the subject. However, these technical terms will distract and confuse a general audience. To maintain a reader’s interest, keep the writing as simple as possible.
Business jargon is split into two types: industry specific, which assumes knowledge of technical terms or acronyms that a wider audience might not be aware of (such as HMO, SEO or CSS for example) and the more generalized "business speak" which is basically the use of overly complicated phrases for very simple concepts (such as paradigm shift or bandwidth). Both types of jargon can be distracting to your readers.
ProWritingAid checks your writing for business jargon terms and suggests that you remove them from your work. Ideally you should aim for a score of "0", which means there is no business jargon in your writing.
## Why You Should Avoid Business Jargon
As mentioned above there are two types of jargon: industry-specific and "business speak." You should avoid both types of jargon, because they can be off-putting, alienating, and confusing to your readers. Business jargon is usually an overly difficult way of saying something simple. If you use business jargon, you're likely delaying your readers' understanding. Jargon can also come across as both complicated and elitist, leaving readers uncertain and feeling like you're addressing them using some type of secret language.
In addition, jargon comes across as a little bit clichéd. Many of the generalized "business speak" terms have now been overused to the point of parody. Phrases such as "mission critical" or "low-hanging fruit" add nothing to your writing and make it feel like your writing is trite.
Of course, sometimes business jargon is necessary, particularly when you are writing for someone in the same industry and using terms you both understand. If you're deciding to use jargon, make sure that everyone reading your document will understand the words and phrases you use. If there's any doubt, you should avoid the term completely.
