Principles of plain language
Avoid jargon
Terms that are specialized are hard for people to understand
Inform your audience first
Jargon is complicated language used to impress, rather than to inform, your audience.
When we say not to use jargon, we’re not advocating leaving out necessary technical terms. Simply, make sure your language is as clear as possible.
Say | Instead of |
|---|---|
Tighten the brinulator valve control ring securely. | Apply sufficient torque to the brinulator valve control ring to ensure that the control ring assembly is securely attached to the terminal such that loosening cannot occur under normal conditions. |
In this case, there may not be another correct way to refer to a “brinulator valve control ring.” However, the first is jargon. The second is a necessary use of a technical term.
Special terms can be useful shorthand within a particular audience. Using them may be the clearest way to communicate with that group. Even if your only readers are specialists, focus on necessary technical terms to avoid misunderstanding or alienation.
Everyday language
Readers complain about jargon more than any other writing fault. This is because writers often fail to realize that terms they know well may be difficult or meaningless to their audience. Try to substitute everyday language for jargon as often as possible. Consider the following pairs:
Say | Instead of |
|---|---|
River birds | Riverine avifauna |
Unhoused | Involuntarily undomiciled |
The patient is on a respirator. | The patient is being given positive-pressure ventilatory support. |
The exhaust gas eventually damages the coating of most existing ceramics. | Most refractory coatings to date exhibit a lack of reliability when subject to the impingement of entrained particulate matter in the propellant stream under extended firing durations. |
When you have no way to express an idea except to use technical language, make sure to define your terms.
Remember to write to communicate, not to impress. If you do that, you should naturally use less jargon. For more on abbreviations and definitions, see Minimize abbreviations.
Define a word where you use it
Avoid long sections of definitions at the beginning or end of your document. Rewrite to try to eliminate the need for most definitions.
If you must have a definition section, place definitions at the end. This allows your user to go right to the text, rather than having to go through less important material.
Don’t number the definitions, but list them alphabetically. This makes it easier for users to find a definition, and for you to change your definition section later.
Don’t define common words
Never define a word to mean something other than its commonly accepted meaning.
Here are some unnecessary definitions:
- Bicycle means every device propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may ride on land, having one, two, or more wheels, except a manual wheelchair.
- Degrade means to lessen or diminish in quantity, quality, or value.
- Age means how old a person is, or the number of elapsed years from the date of a person’s birth.
Don’t define words you don’t use
Writers sometimes define terms they think they might use, but don’t. This can be very confusing for users who expect to read something about the topic but can’t find it in the document.
