Showing off with jargons

Keep it Simple!

Revealing the secrets of becoming a good writer, Ernest Hemingway once said, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”

Yet, in today’s world many writers use jargon which are special words and expressions, but difficult to understand. 

Often, writers use jargon just to show off. However, these types of writings and sentences confuse the readers so much that they do not even pay attention to it. They just ignore these words and continue reading.

One of my cousins, who wants to become a popular writer, often says that he will invent new words and try to form them by mixing two different words in absurd manners. I just wonder how many people will be able to understand this language.

I have also noticed that often, people other than writers also use jargons. They try to change a normal sentence into a sentence which means the same but sounds like beating around the bush.

On one occasion, a company sacked a few of its employees, but claimed that it does not sack its staff. Later, the HR department of the company tried to justify their action by saying, “Our company is downsizing people and trying to give our employees an opportunity for career change.”

Similarly, politicians too use jargons. Recently, while discussing recession on a TV talk show one of the panellists refused to accept that his country is going through recession. Instead, he said that it is a period of economic adjustment.

I have also noticed that many writers often try to form abbreviations of terms which are not known to the common people. 

At least, they should mention its full form once so that it is easily understood by the readers.

I believe that a writer should have clarity in his sentence, be precise in the choice of words, and the most important of all, let jargons and abbreviations “RIP.”

(Published in The Gulf Today on January 16, 2016)