How to root out jargon
I just wrote 'deep dive', and it was not in a marine context. 'Not again! Jargon alert!'
It's like a weed. Jargon takes root in our brains because the more familiar a phrase becomes, the more likely we are to think everyone understands it, so we start using it.
How do I notice jargon in the first place?
I foster a healthy disrespect for it. I smirk at jargon-bashing memes and follow Instagram accounts that giggle at corporate life. I do whatever I can to make sure my brain goes into alert mode whenever I come across new jargon.
This helps me notice when I've used it myself.
How do I root out the jargon?
I ask myself 'How else could I say this?'
'It's not a deep dive, it's ... focused research. Careful research. Maybe it's just research. Yep, research.'
It's a useful mantra: How else could I say this?
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