Can't say what you mean?

Have you ever struggled to read a document and found yourself lost in the jargon?

Technical terms and jargon may have their place in academia but jargon and uncommon words are used as gatekeepers to knowledge. They are used to prove the writer belongs to an elite group and to exclude others from that group.

One organisation has been fighting (since 1979) to make the English-speaking world aware of how to write … plain English. The Plain English Campaign offers a range of guides for writers to keep their writing clear and concise.

Creating training materials

Clear English is particularly important when you create training materials.

Trainees come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they have been working on a site for some time, they may not understand the contractions of words, the jargon or acronyms (a word made from the initials of words in a phrase, for example 'DoC' for the Department of Conservation). Their lack of understanding may lead to miscommunication and mistakes.

Identifying trainee needs for a face-to-face or online course means stepping back from your own understanding. You need to ask yourself questions such as:

• If I didn't know anything about this topic, what would I need to know first?
• What sort of things would I be too embarassed to ask about?

Outside eyes

If you are already familiar with the content, an outside eye may help you identify what could be confusing. Ask a person with no knowledge of your industry to read through your course material and ask every question that occurs to them. Try not to feel defensive, but work out a clearer way of saying what you mean.

• Keep your sentences short
• Replace multi-syllable words with plain English
• Use numbered or bulleted lists
• Add illustrations or diagrams to show complex ideas
• Illustrate the same points in different ways
• Use stories or case studies to illustrate theory

Introduce necessary technical words and jargon if the trainees need the terms to do their jobs safely. Always offer a simple explanation for each term and ask when they might use it. Try to work the term into your course as you teach so trainees hear the words in context.

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