Scientists and researchers - and countless other professionals - have been told for years to get rid of overly technical terms unique to their subject area.  In simple terms, to get rid of jargon.  There’s a good reason for this: complicated words have a way of excluding new readers.  But getting rid of jargon in your writing is easier said than done.  After all, those complicated words are, perhaps by definition, useful within their specific domain.  Some concepts just can’t be talked about without their specific term.  Yet despite the difficulty, you’ll find that if you work hard to minimise the jargon your writing can only be more successful.

The best way to minimise the impact of jargon in your writing is not to get rid of it entirely - after all it is quite useful - but to limit it to what is absolutely essential.  Only use complicated jargon when no other word will suffice.  Always explain the term when you do.  Finally (and perhaps most importantly!) never feel too proud using a word that you’ve only just learned.  If you’ve only just learned it, the chances are that a lot of other people haven’t learned it all - and will be excluded by your writing.

It seems like there’s nothing quite like a speech for striking fear in the heart of the normally composed and intelligent individual. Whether it’s at a conference, a wedding or a business meeting, there are many occasions in our lives when we’re called to talk in front of a group. Yet as daunting as this might seem at first, with a bit of preparation, you can take the worst out of your nerves and pull off an engaging and well received speech. The secret - of course - is preparation.

To get started on writing your speech, consider first the basics - your audience, time constraints, setting and purpose. These aren’t rocket science, but ignore them, and you’ll end up getting everyone offside.

Once you’ve considered the basics, the next thing to do is begin structuring what you want to say - don’t start with jokes or flowery language, start with the key messages. Plot these messages down, and work out how you’ll get to them through your introduction, key messages and conclusion.

Once you’ve done that, you can really begin to hone your speech by polishing and perfecting the writing - make things as flowery or simple or amusing as the event requires, and then practice, practice, practice!

Whatever you’re writing - whether it’s a job application cover letter, a journal article or an essay - you have the right to be understood.

You have the right to expect that other people take your ideas seriously. You have the right to be listened to. You have the right to a fair hearing.

But are you always understood? Are your ideas always taken seriously? Are you always listened to?

There’s a large gap between having the right to be understood and it being realised. Too many people are held back - by problems with their writing, by spelling and punctuation errors, or by simple typographical mistakes.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can take control. You can demand to be understood.

Take charge of your writing. Get the editing assistance you need.

My Editing Co. Because everyone has the right to be understood.

Most scientists and researchers spend a good part of their working lives communicating with their colleagues, students and peers - talking and writing in language that is specific to their intellectual discipline. This language has an important and necessary purpose; we couldn’t continue our research without the great range of specific terms and meanings at our disposal. Yet many scientists and researchers are occasionally called to translate their research into very different language: language suitable for a broader - public - audience.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do if you are called to talk or write for a public audience is to consider the meaning of your research within their social context. What is important to them? Are they students, a group of farmers, a collection of interested intellectuals, or the people directly affected by your findings? What sorts of things do they value? What is important to them? Whatever it is, try to find the way to connect your thinking and research to what is important to them. Once you’ve begun to do that, you’ve begun to translate your knowledge into their terms.