Writing Precisely

Last Island · #1 Sunday, February 10, 2008

Good writing requires using words properly. The following topics involve the essentials of language use.

Avoiding Jargon

One way to assure using precise words is to avoid jargon. Jargon is specialized language that excludes others from understanding what is said. Every field has its own specialized language and unique terms. After time, this specialized language can become bewildering. Motorola Corporation had to publish a thick directory of acronyms to permit employees to understand the abbreviations that had become part of their specialized language. You should not be afraid to use the specific language of a field, but you should use terms that are direct and, whenever possible, rely on language that the greatest number of intelligent people can understand. Einstein expressed this concern best: "Ideas should be stated as simply as possible, but no simpler." This requirement does not mean that you should avoid topics that are technical—quite the contrary! But, your writing should use only those specialized terms that are essential. Table 1 shares a guide to jargon and bureaucratic verbiage that should be avoided. In your writing not only should jargon be avoided, but if abbreviations cannot be eliminated completely, they should be minimized.

Jargon and Bureaucratic Phrases to Avoid

Words often are composed of verbal fog that confuses rather than helps. Scan your own research writing to see if you use jargon that should be replaced with crisp alternatives.

Phrase to Avoid ..... ..... ..... ..... ... ....... ... .. Phrase of Word to Substitute

study in depth ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....,.....study
consensus of opinion ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ........consensus
at the present time ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..........now
until such time as ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ... ..until
in the area of ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... about
in connection with ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....about
in the event of ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ...if
provided ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ......if
providing ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... if
for the purpose of ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....to
in order to ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ...to
take action ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ..act
equally as ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ....equally
most importantly ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... most important
it has come to my attention ..... ..... ..... ..... ...I understand
in view of ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ........ .because
due to the fact that ..... ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... .because
based on the fact that ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....because
due to ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... . since; because
period of time ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....time
the reason is because ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....the reason is; (or) because [not both]
the reason why ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..the reason is; (or) because [not both]
a total of 68 subjects ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... 68 subjects
advance planning ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... planning
four different groups saw ..... ..... ..... ..... ...... four groups saw
but that ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ..... that
human being ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... human
in the field of ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....in
in many instances ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....often; frequently
high-level management ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....top management
college level courses ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .college courses
near disaster ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....nearly disastrous
near perfect ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... nearly perfect
off of ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .. from; (or) off
real facts ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....facts
true facts ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ...facts
there were several students who completed ..... several students completed