Jargon exists in every field. And jargon, in the right place, can be quite useful. It’s a quick way to convey information. It serves the secondary purpose of distinguishing the “insiders” from the “outsiders.” So when shouldn’t you use jargon? Whenever you’re communicating with those “outsiders.” Then it’s time to make your writing and speaking a jargon-free zone.

The challenge for some people is that they’re so used to using the phrases and words with the meanings peculiar to their profession that they don’t even realize that other people don’t understand them. Their intention is to be clear and concise, but the result is simply frustrating. Even worse, readers often feel that the use of jargon is deliberate: the writer is purposely trying to make them feel like outsiders.

How can you keep your writing jargon-free? Be aware of words or phrases that you often have to explain to people outside your work community, and try to avoid them. If in doubt, look up the word to see if the definition in the dictionary matches the way you’re using it. The best test of all, though, is to have someone outside your field read and edit your work. To that person, the slippery jargon words that you might miss will stand out as though printed in red.