Choose words with precision and handle jargon and usage like a pro

Words are tools with torque. The wrong tool can strip a bolt. Abstract nouns like implementation, incentivization, or utilization often sit between you and the idea, making the reader translate. Verbs like build, reward, or use carry meaning directly. In psycholinguistics, concreteness and imageability are linked to better recall. When readers can picture words, they understand faster.

Jargon isn’t evil. It’s a shorthand inside a community. The problem is audience drift. If your readers don’t share the code, jargon becomes fog. A medical pamphlet that says “hypertension” to a general audience slows comprehension by a beat. Say “high blood pressure,” then define the clinical term if you need it later. Grice’s maxims—be clear, be truthful, be relevant, be brief—are a handy compass.

There’s a place for new words. Technology and culture invent useful terms that name real differences. The test is whether the word adds precision. A data team needed “heteroscedasticity” for a report because it named a specific pattern; they added a ten‑word gloss. A marketing team did not need “productize” when “turn into a product” was clearer.

One micro‑anecdote: a founder swapped “We’ll operationalize a cross‑functional go‑to‑market motion” for “We’ll launch this with sales and support on June 1.” The second line got a yes in two minutes. The first got a request for “more detail.” Precision isn’t about smaller words, it’s about the right words for the reader.

Usage changes over time, but your job is to serve understanding. Prefer plain words when possible, choose new terms when they add value, and keep your reader’s vocabulary in mind. That’s how professionals use language with care.

Scan your draft for abstract nouns and turn them into verbs where you can. Run every piece of jargon through two questions—does my reader use this, and does it add precision—and replace or briefly explain anything that fails. Choose concrete, living words readers can picture, and adopt new terms only when they help you name a real difference. Try the swap test on your next email and see how quickly people reply.