By Nancy DeKalb

Jargon is a communication killer.  You can’t have open and honest communication with your audience if they don’t know what you’re saying.

While I’m not going to argue for or against health care reform, the debate surrounding it is a good example of the overuse of jargon and unnecessary phrases.  A quick search on the Internet turns up hundreds of articles and Web sites offering translations.

Every industry uses jargon. Health care. Insurance. Technology. Yes, even public relations. But, if the response to what you say or write is “huh” or “so what are you saying?” you’re not really communicating.  Step back and ask, what are we really trying to say here?

Here are a few examples of confusing and unintelligible language:

“a mechanism to obtain greater process”  (huh?)

“customers are saying they need more than your usual operational business intelligence and dashboard reporting capabilities…” (really?)

“The robust, out-of-the-box, short-term content factor can be summed up in one word.” (then use that word)

What are some of your favorite examples of communication killers?