I write a lot in the enterprise space. And if you've written for executives, you already know that a TON of jargon comes with it. And plenty of advice on the internet telling you to avoid it.

But not all jargon is bad. Sometimes, it's even considered a specialist or technical term your audience would understand with a little extra help.

Avoiding it can alienate readers. Consider someone learning about a topic, like the art of becoming a barista. Not explaining what a macchiato is will do them a disservice.

Even if you are writing for a specialist audience, you can make your content more approachable, no matter the topic. The overarching theme is to help readers understand these terms.

If you're discussing a term, like the macchiato, add plain language around it:

• ❌ The barista prepared a macchiato with microfoam and ristretto shots.
• ✅ The barista made a macchiato, which is an espresso topped with a small amount of steamed milk and foam.

This works for more than just coffee lingo. Let's consider a more technical medical topic:

• ❌ The patient exhibited symptoms of myocardial infarction.
• ✅ The patient showed signs of a heart attack (myocardial infarction), including chest pain and shortness of breath.

See how much clearer that is?

Plain English works for all audiences. Think of a busy CEO with a day of meetings and emails reading your article when researching new AI vendors—or the stay-at-home parent with a baby in one hand scrolling through your article with the other.

They don't have time for complex content. No one does! Simple content is easier to absorb and act on. Adding a brief explanation makes all the difference!

Talk soon,

Mike