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Proactive disclosure Print version   | |  GSC Guide to Authors Jargon and contrived or redundant words
Grammar Jargon is obscure (specialized technical or scientific vocabulary) and often pretentious language characterized by circumlocution and long words. Jargon effectively clouds what an author wishes to say, and should be avoided. The following sentence is an example of jargon:
The position in regard to this whole thing is that active consideration cannot
be given to it until present conditions change and the matter can be settled
and the situation clarified in due course.
Many contrived words have recently been coined:
These contrived words have little place in scientific writing, however common their use may be in conversation. Many reports are littered with the expressions such as there is, there are, there were, implying, in most instances, either careless writing or loose thinking. Generally, such words can be avoided and the sentences rewritten in more compact form. The statement 'In most specimens there is more biotite than hornblende', can be rewritten to advantage as Most specimens contain more biotite than hornblende. Similarly, 'There are eight veins exposed on this property' should be rewritten as Eight veins are exposed on this property. Use the following verb forms sparingly:
Usually the extra word is redundant, or such compound expressions can be replaced by single words, as shown in italics in the following examples:
in close proximity to - near
in the vicinity of - near in those areas where - where carry out - perform look after - watch fall off - decline prove up - test dies out - ends The following are other examples of unnecessary words (shown in quotation marks):
All 'of'
Square 'in shape' He walked 'for a distance of' 10 km At 'the' present 'time' At this 'point in' time Few 'in number' 'First' initiated Exposed 'at the surface'; or, 'surface' outcrops Mining is carried on 'extensively' throughout the area Near 'to' Covered 'over' Pyrite, chalcopyrite, and 'also' free gold The rock is dark green 'in colour' The conditions were favourable for landslides 'to occur' 'An' innumerable 'number of' tiny veins Contemporaneous 'in age' Ordovician 'in age' A rough estimate of the 'approximate' position 'Subsurface' well sections Subsurface 'well' sections 'Age' dating Change: 'good lighting conditions were absent at many outcrops' to light conditions were poor at many outcrops; and 'bedded to completely unbedded' to bedded to massive. The following sentence illustrates the use of unnecessary words (in quotation marks) and the advantage gained by their elimination (the words in parentheses are added to complete the sentence):
'All of' the wells in this township are in the glacial drift, and 'the majority'
(most) of them are less than 10 m (deep) 'with only a few deeper ones'.
The following are other overused words that can become pretentious or irritating (shown with alternatives in italics):
ascertain (determine, establish)
cartoon (schematic diagram) constrain (control, restrict, define, limit) essentially (generally, commonly, practically) generate (produce) irregardless (regardless, irrespective) ongoing (continuing, current) portion (part) show (demonstrate, illustrate, suggest, indicate, imply) ubiquitous (widely distributed) signature (characteristics) utilize (use)
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