Deciphering the Jargoneer
By Robert Walker Cohen
In the world of professional writing, there are few greater impasses than that of a writer armed with a red pen and a client deeply in love with their own industry jargon.
For professional writers to continue to be their client’s best option, they need to do two things: create differentiated value and ensure a seamless client experience.
Navigating the jargon-heavy client can be the ultimate test of both.
For the skilled writer, an over-reliance on jargon creates linguistic "toxic waste" that suffocates effective prose. But for a very specific type of highly specialized client, jargon is their native tongue.
To affectionately—and a little ironically—refer to these clients, many of whom are brilliant innovators and good friends, I will resurrect an ancient 17th-century jargon artifact: “jargoneers.”
Jargoneers exist in every field. The more specialized the industry, the more obvious they are to outsiders.
Now, let’s begin to untangle this puzzle — the mismatch between the jargoneer client and the professional writer — with Merriam-Webster’s three definitions of “jargon”:
the technical terminology or characteristic idiom of a special activity or group
obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words
confused unintelligible language; a strange, outlandish, or barbarous language or dialect
Merriam-Webster is considered a neutral source, but here, they reveal their writerly biases. You will notice that each definition is progressively more negative. It’s as if the first definition belongs to the jargoneer, the second to the professional writer, and the third to the annoyed outsider.
The disconnect is dramatic. By way of example, here’s an anonymized startup pitch from a classic jargoneer:
“(Anonymous startup) is building vertically-integrated AI infrastructure to unlock the key challenges in DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure) networks today... creating the world's first AI-native blockchain... that effectively coordinates resources such as models, compute, and data across edge devices.”
If you did not enjoy reading this and found it difficult to understand exactly what is being pitched, you aren't alone. The jargoneer who wrote it, tragically, may be entirely enamored.
My theory on the disconnect:
Jargon is undoubtedly useful as an effective shorthand for conveying complex ideas to a niche audience. But that utility alone doesn't explain why jargoneers love jargon as much as they do, far beyond its actual usefulness.
The reality is that jargoneers love jargon because it acts as a social signal. It demonstrates a baseline savvy, hard-won domain expertise, and proud membership in an exclusive tribe of Those In The Know. To outsiders, however, the jargoneer can be uncharitably perceived as someone convinced that the more syllables they use, the higher they will fly—occasionally bordering on unwitting parody.
In defense of the jargoneers, they are right to be proud. It takes a high degree of intelligence and years of hard work to master these complex dialects. Jargon is often a side-effect of true expertise, and that should be commended.
That said, leaning too heavily on insider language actively undermines the messenger, branding their groundbreaking ideas as convoluted and their personalities as pretentious.
Professional writers aim to craft storytelling that is compelling, clear, and precise. Jargon is a threat to this mission, a tool that should be wielded by a skilled writer only when strictly necessary.
To return to the anonymous startup, here is how a writer may remodel their pitch to be punchy, accessible, and jargon-free:
“(Anonymous startup) is building AI infrastructure that coordinates and optimizes existing physical networks.”
Much cleaner, no?
Bridging the Gap
If a jargoneer contracts a writer, how do we untangle the knot?
Here’s my formula:
Study the Client: It’s the writer’s responsibility to understand the client's baseline voice, their industry context, and the "why" behind their communication style.
Address the Friction: Upon discovering the client is a jargoneer, the writer must politely—but firmly—point out where their specialized language is muddying the waters. Advocate for clarity and agree on a style that is natural and resonant.
Navigate the Compromise: If they accept the expert advice, perfect. Problem solved. If a well-meaning jargoneer clings to their jargon, the writer must chart the course on an ad-hoc basis, aware that this engagement will likely require a healthy dose of strategic managing.
While jargoneers and writers may seem like a tragic mismatch, the reality is that they are made for one another. The highly specialized client needs a professional writer more than most, and the professional writer needs reliable and engaging client work.
If a brilliant jargoneer and an expert writer can develop a healthy, honest, and collaborative dynamic, both stand to win big.
