Comments on: MM: Jargon http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/ Help for a Punctual and Polite Life Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:25:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: --Deb http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-662 --Deb Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:30:37 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-662 Now you've got me doing it . . . jargon, jargon, jargon, jargon.... Now you’ve got me doing it . . . jargon, jargon, jargon, jargon….

]]> By: Judy H. http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-661 Judy H. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:21:02 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-661 I totally agree with everything you said. Jargon out of place is a waste of words. But, in fiction, jargon can be the detail that makes your characters come alive! You have to be careful that the jargon is explained by context, but a cop needs to talk like a cop, a lawyer like a lawyer, etc. (Oh, and Melissa's right. Jargon is a fun word to say. Jargon, jargon, jargon...) I totally agree with everything you said. Jargon out of place is a waste of words.

But, in fiction, jargon can be the detail that makes your characters come alive! You have to be careful that the jargon is explained by context, but a cop needs to talk like a cop, a lawyer like a lawyer, etc.

(Oh, and Melissa’s right. Jargon is a fun word to say. Jargon, jargon, jargon…)

]]> By: Robyn http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-660 Robyn Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:06:02 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-660 Deb, I've had this feeling about jargon a long time. When in my doctoral program, there was specific language I had to learn, because at times focused on complex processes, for instance. These words could be picked up and understood by others in the field who read academic journals. However, when writing to a general audience academics leave this kind of jargon behind [hopefully]. So, I guess that it depends on what you are writing and for whom. <em>Robyn's last blog post..<a href='http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2008/04/let-me-pick-your-brain.html' rel="nofollow">Let Me Pick Your Brain!</a></em> Deb, I’ve had this feeling about jargon a long time. When in my doctoral program, there was specific language I had to learn, because at times focused on complex processes, for instance. These words could be picked up and understood by others in the field who read academic journals. However, when writing to a general audience academics leave this kind of jargon behind [hopefully]. So, I guess that it depends on what you are writing and for whom.

Robyn’s last blog post..Let Me Pick Your Brain!

]]> By: --Deb http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-659 --Deb Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:23:09 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-659 Well, okay, Melissa, I'll admit that it's a fun word to SAY (grin). Well, okay, Melissa, I’ll admit that it’s a fun word to SAY (grin).

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-658 Melissa Donovan Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:04:28 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-658 Jargon is one of those words that I love. Something about it really appeals to me. However, I have been a victim of industry jargon and I can tell you it is not pleasant when someone rambles on about TCP reports and you have only been with the company for a week and have no idea what the heck TCP stands for. Grr. But still, I love that word! <em>Melissa Donovan's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WritingForward/~3/277480969/breifs-are-not-just-underwear' rel="nofollow">Briefs are Not Just Underwear</a></em> Jargon is one of those words that I love. Something about it really appeals to me. However, I have been a victim of industry jargon and I can tell you it is not pleasant when someone rambles on about TCP reports and you have only been with the company for a week and have no idea what the heck TCP stands for. Grr. But still, I love that word!

Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Briefs are Not Just Underwear

]]> By: --Deb http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-657 --Deb Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:11:06 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-657 Clearly, a legal brief needs to be written in legalese, I accept that. But outside a professional arena? It's like a police officer talking like he's writing a report, when he answers the question "How was your day?" Clearly, a legal brief needs to be written in legalese, I accept that. But outside a professional arena? It’s like a police officer talking like he’s writing a report, when he answers the question “How was your day?”

]]> By: Lillie Ammann http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-656 Lillie Ammann Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:26:36 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-656 Deb, The use of jargon is one of my pet peeves. I've just been working on a style guide for a client, and I made sure to say not to use jargon unless the document is for internal use only. <em>Lillie Ammann's last blog post..<a href='http://lillieammann.com/blog/2008/04/28/read-and-comment-day/' rel="nofollow">Read and Comment Day</a></em> Deb,
The use of jargon is one of my pet peeves. I’ve just been working on a style guide for a client, and I made sure to say not to use jargon unless the document is for internal use only.

Lillie Ammann’s last blog post..Read and Comment Day

]]> By: Janice Cartier http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-655 Janice Cartier Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:23:25 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-655 Hey Deb- this looks great...do I recognize you from TS ? All best, Jan <em>Janice Cartier's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cartier/paintings/~3/279378049/for-audubons-birds-and-kids-of-gulf.html' rel="nofollow">For Audubon's Birds And The Kids Of The Gulf Coast</a></em> Hey Deb- this looks great…do I recognize you from TS ? All best, Jan

Janice Cartier’s last blog post..For Audubon’s Birds And The Kids Of The Gulf Coast

]]> By: Karen Swim http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-654 Karen Swim Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:23:08 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-654 Deb, you're so right! Heavy use of acronyms and insider jargon (not written for insiders) leaves me feeling that the writer was filled with self importance. It takes far more thought, in my opinion to simplify and make your words accessible to a wider audience. <em>Karen Swim's last blog post..<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WordsForHire/~3/278298228/student-his-way-out-of-egyptian-jail.html' rel="nofollow">Student 'Twitters' his way out of Egyptian jail</a></em> Deb, you’re so right! Heavy use of acronyms and insider jargon (not written for insiders) leaves me feeling that the writer was filled with self importance. It takes far more thought, in my opinion to simplify and make your words accessible to a wider audience.

Karen Swim’s last blog post..Student ‘Twitters’ his way out of Egyptian jail

]]> By: --Deb http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-653 --Deb Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:06:17 +0000 http://punctualityrules.com/2008/04/28/mm-jargon/#comment-653 @Karen--One would certainly hope so! Because, well, that's what communicating is FOR. Some people just seem to take it as a challenge, to make it as obscure as possible. Those are the kinds of people who like to know secrets just for the sake of knowing them.... (grin) @Karen–One would certainly hope so! Because, well, that’s what communicating is FOR. Some people just seem to take it as a challenge, to make it as obscure as possible. Those are the kinds of people who like to know secrets just for the sake of knowing them…. (grin)

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