About Tim Albert Training

This article appeared in the Autumn 2002 edition of Short Words, the newsletter of Tim Albert Training. It was written by Tim Albert.

Jargon: is there anything we can do to stem the flow?

Jargon, like queue jumping and litter, is something we can all agree to dislike.

The word itself is generally believed to come from the medieval French ('the twittering of birds'). It is used to describe words and phrases with which we feel uncomfortable.

At one level are those flabby words and phrases that all should avoid, such as 'absolute perfection' and 'at the end of the day'. At another are words that have a special meaning to immediate colleagues, but none at all to those outside the tribe.

The problem here is usually one of culture, as writers find it in their interest to please their peers before their readers. Thus doctors end up writing for doctors and NHS managers for other NHS managers (usually theirs).

This issue of Short Words has jargon as its theme. Articles range from a collection of readers' most derided words to a review of a new book on NHS jargon. We have identified some useful websites, and David Pencheon gives a list of buzz words that those sitting public health exams should sprinkle throughout their projects.

Will reading this issue help solve the 'jargon problem'? Some of the words we list may sensitise you to some of the uglier - and unnecessary - additions to the English language.

But this will only go so far: the only permanent solution is making sure that, with everything you write, you define clearly your target readers. In that way you should be able to choose the words and phrases that they will be comfortable with - and jargon will no longer be an issue.

5.09.02