Let’s face it, jargon can be pretty annoying when you’re reading about or using a product that you’re not familiar with. The worse thing is when some words are used incorrectly or unintentionally. The more jargon-y the writing is, the more likely this is to happen. So if you’re writing about a subject that you’re not familiar with, it’s probably a good idea to use a few jargon words to make yourself more accessible to the reader.
Below, you’ll discover when it’s acceptable to drop some jargon and when it’s better to use this type of language. In the end, you’ll know when it’s best to use jargon in your writing, and why. Let’s get started.
When To Use Jargon In Copywriting
As mentioned above, when you’re not familiar with a topic or a product, it can be difficult to write about it without using some sort of jargon. Luckily, there are some clear guidelines you can follow to help you decide when this type of language is acceptable and when it’s better to leave it out. In this section, we will discuss when to use jargon in copywriting and why you should avoid it in most cases.
When You’re Addressing Large Audiences
If you’re writing for a general audience, it’s probably not necessary to use big words and complicated sentences to make yourself understood. In this case, you can assume your readers will have some knowledge of the subject matter — or can easily look it up. In general, it’s best to keep your writing as accessible as possible. Your goal is simply to get your point across without making things too difficult for the reader. They’re better off learning something, than getting frustrated and giving up because they didn’t understand everything you said.
When You’re Writing For Technical Audiences
If you’re writing for a technical audience, it’s probably best to avoid using big words and complicated sentences. After all, this is what they are looking for. If your writing is relevant to what they are researching or working on, they will have the background knowledge to understand your language. In technical writing, jargon helps keep the language consistent and allows the reader to quickly figure out what’s being said. So in most cases, it’s better to leave out the jargon and use simpler sentences.
When You’re Writing For Online Communities
If you’re writing for an online community, it’s probably best to avoid using big words and complicated sentences. After all, this is what they are looking for. Your goal in this case is to make yourself accessible to the widest audience. People from all over the world will be reading and interacting with your content, so you want to make sure that they can understand you. When it comes to communicating online, often times simpler is better. If you’re worried about communicating in a foreign language, there are many tools online that can help translate your writing for the international audience (like Translator Chat or Google Translate).
When You’re Writing In Comic Book Format
If you happen to be writing in comic book format, it’s probably best to avoid using big words and complicated sentences. After all, this is what they are looking for. If you want to write in a way that will make sense to the comic book reader, it’s probably best to keep things simple. Of course, you can add in some slang or other types of language, but for the most part, keep your writing as accessible as possible. This way, you’ll appeal to the widest audience and allow more people to understand what you’re saying. Some words and phrases may require more explanation, but for the most part, you can assume your reader will know what you’re talking about.
When You’re Using Marketing And Sales Jargon
Above all else, avoid using jargon when you’re discussing marketing and sales. This is a highly specialized area of copywriting, and you don’t want to confuse the average person reading your blog post or website article on marketing and sales strategies. When it comes to marketing and sales, jargon can be extremely beneficial. Without getting too technical, let’s say you’re a market research company and you’ve been commissioned to carry out a detailed analysis of customer behavior. Maybe you’ve analyzed thousands of customer interactions and determined that people prefer to contact businesses via phone calls or emails. You’d probably generate a report containing lots of fascinating information, but unless you are a professional in marketing and sales, you’d probably find it difficult to communicate the findings of your research to others. Wouldn’t you?
Even if you are not a professional in marketing and sales, you can use this type of language to make yourself more accessible. The last thing you want to do is write something that is confusing to the average person. Avoid using jargon, and use words that are easy to understand. This way, everyone will understand what you are saying and be able to apply your principles to their own business situations.
Final Takeaway
Above all, when you’re not familiar with a topic or a product, it’s probably best to avoid using jargon. Instead, use simpler words and phrases to make yourself accessible to the widest audience. This way, when a technical person finds their way to your content, they’ll have an easier time understanding what you’re saying. Even if you are writing for a specialized audience, you can use specialized terms, but avoid overusing jargon. In most cases, simpler is better. Remember, your goal is to keep your writing as accessible as possible. For the average person, it may be difficult to understand complex ideas and concepts, even if they are related to something that they are familiar with. Keep your writing simple and easy to understand and apply to one’s own life.