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Q&A How to use professional jargon when writing fiction?

Handling realistic jargon that your readers might not know is similar to the problem described in Using real words from a foreign culture feels like 'Calling a rabbit a "smeerp"', a question about ...

posted 5y ago by Monica Cellio‭

Answer
#1: Initial revision by user avatar Monica Cellio‭ · 2020-01-12T04:27:31Z (almost 5 years ago)
Handling realistic jargon that your readers might not know is similar to the problem described in [Using real words from a foreign culture feels like 'Calling a rabbit a "smeerp"'](https://writing.codidact.com/questions/32136), a question about fantasy language.  In an answer there I pointed out that **density** is one problem; if every fifth word in your story is jargon, then readers without a similar background will feel lost.  But that doesn't mean you have to eliminate the jargon; instead, try to supply some context, both in scene descriptions and in character actions and reactions.  Some examples:

- Go ahead and have your character sight in with his (insert high-powered rifle type here), and then show the effects of the recoil or bracing against it.

- Have the sergeant give those jargon-filled orders, and then have a soldier wonder why we're going to all that trouble to (describe maneuver here) when (something else) seems much easier.

- Have the radiologist talk about the scan using the expected jargon, and have the medical resident ask questions that don't use the same (or as much) jargon.  Readers who don't know the medical terms can still pick up on emotional impact, severity, and uncertainty.

- If your story supports it, have a character who either needs more explanation (for example, by being an outsider) or who naturally over-explains.  A journalist embedded with a military unit or the spouse accompanying a partner to a professional social event can provide a way for you to explain things to the reader indirectly.  Or you might have a know-it-all who often needs to be told to shut up.