Plain Language vs Technical Jargon

Developers should learn Plain Language to enhance their technical writing, documentation, and communication with non-technical stakeholders, such as clients or end-users meets developers should learn and use technical jargon to effectively collaborate with peers, understand documentation, and participate in technical discussions, as it enables precise and efficient communication of complex concepts. Here's our take.

Plain Language

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Plain Language to enhance their technical writing, documentation, and communication with non-technical stakeholders, such as clients or end-users

Pros

• It is particularly valuable when creating user manuals, API documentation, project reports, or explaining technical issues to support teams, as it improves usability and reduces misunderstandings
• Related to: technical-writing, documentation

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Technical Jargon

Developers should learn and use technical jargon to effectively collaborate with peers, understand documentation, and participate in technical discussions, as it enables precise and efficient communication of complex concepts

Pros

• It is essential in contexts like code reviews, team meetings, and reading technical literature, but should be used judiciously to avoid alienating stakeholders or beginners
• Related to: communication-skills, documentation

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Plain Language is a methodology while Technical Jargon is a concept. We picked Plain Language based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Plain Language wins

Based on overall popularity. Plain Language is more widely used, but Technical Jargon excels in its own space.