Section 18.7 Word Choice for Clarity
The preceding sections have focused on how sentence structure creates or destroys clarity. But structure is only part of the picture. Even a perfectly constructed sentence can mislead readers if the words themselves are vague, overly technical, or unnecessarily abstract. Word choice operates at the level of individual lexical items, and the questions are simple: Does this word say exactly what you mean? Will your reader understand it? Does it point to something concrete, or does it gesture vaguely at a category?
Precision.
Choose words that say exactly what you mean:
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Vague: The results were interesting.
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Precise: The results were surprising / encouraging / contradictory.
Avoiding Jargon.
Technical terms are appropriate for technical audiences. For general audiences, use plain language:
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Jargon: The initiative was impacted by bandwidth constraints.
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Plain: The project was delayed because staff were too busy.
Concrete vs. Abstract.
Concrete language is clearer than abstract language:
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Abstract: Improvements were made in the area of employee satisfaction.
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Concrete: More employees reported being satisfied with their jobs.
