Jargon-free communication
Where insider language creeps into a community, and how to strip it out without losing precision.
Jargon-free communication is the practice of stripping insider language, acronyms, and needless complexity out of how a community talks, so that anyone can understand and take part. It is not dumbing down. It is removing the barriers that quietly exclude newcomers, non-native speakers, and members who bring valuable perspective but not the in-group vocabulary. Every community grows its own shorthand, and a little of it builds belonging. Too much turns the language into a wall: people who cannot decode it stop asking questions, stop contributing, and drift away. Jargon-free communication keeps precision but drops the exclusivity, explaining unavoidable terms instead of assuming everyone knows them. This page explains what jargon-free communication is, why clarity is a matter of access rather than style, and how to build it into a community without losing depth.
What is jargon-free communication?
Jargon-free communication is the intentional use of clear, concise, inclusive language: plain words instead of technical or insider terms, short sentences instead of dense ones, and a definition whenever a specialist term genuinely cannot be avoided. It overlaps with the broader idea of plain language, but with a community-specific focus on removing the shorthand, acronyms, and slang that separate long-time members from everyone else. The goal is simple: no one should be shut out of a conversation because of how it is worded.
Why does jargon-free communication matter?
Because far more people struggle with dense text than communities assume, and unclear language has a real cost. A 2020 study by Gallup and the Barbara Bush Foundation, drawing on US Department of Education data, found that 54% of American adults aged 16 to 74, roughly 130 million people, read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level, and estimated that low adult literacy could be costing the US economy up to $2.2 trillion a year. If more than half your potential members read below a sixth-grade level, jargon is not a stylistic quibble; it is a barrier to entry. Governments learned this the hard way. The US federal plain-language guidance says plain writing means people "understand your documents more quickly, call less often for explanations, [and] make fewer errors," which is exactly why the US passed the Plain Writing Act of 2010, requiring federal agencies to write for the public in clear language. The same logic applies to any community: clarity widens the door.
How do you make communication jargon-free?
Audit the places jargon hides
Onboarding guides, community guidelines, event descriptions, and role names are where insider language creeps in. Review them and swap technical terms for plain ones.
Define unavoidable terms on first use
Some specialist words are necessary. When they are, explain them the first time they appear, so no one has to already be an expert to follow along.
Model clarity from the top
Members mirror the language of leaders. When moderators and organisers write plainly and welcome "what does that mean?" questions, the whole community follows.
Keep a shared glossary
A living glossary of community terms lets you honour the shorthand that builds belonging while giving newcomers a way in. Insider language is fine as long as it is not a locked door.
What does jargon-free communication look like in practice?
Plain onboarding: a welcome message a first-timer can read once and understand, with no unexplained acronyms.
Explained terms: the first time a specialist word appears in a thread, a one-line definition follows it.
A norm of asking: a culture where "can you explain that?" is welcomed, not judged, so gaps get closed instead of hidden.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between jargon-free communication and plain language?
Plain language is the broad practice of writing so any reader can understand, especially public audiences. Jargon-free communication is a community-focused part of it, aimed specifically at removing insider terms, acronyms, and slang that could exclude members. One is the principle; the other applies it to a group's shared language.
Does jargon-free communication mean dumbing things down?
No. It means simplifying access to ideas, not the ideas themselves. Complex, nuanced topics can still be discussed in depth, just explained clearly and with terms defined, so more people can follow and contribute.
Is jargon-free communication still important in technical communities?
Especially so. Technical communities risk becoming insular and closed to newcomers or people from adjacent fields. Defining terms and writing clearly widens access without lowering the level of the conversation.
How do you encourage members to avoid jargon?
Set clear guidelines on inclusive language, model plain communication as a leader, offer gentle reminders when needed, and recognise members who help explain things. When clarity is a shared value, the community maintains it together.
Related on tchop
Sources: Wikipedia: plain language · PlainLanguage.gov, benefits of plain language · Digital.gov, "An introduction to plain language".
