We’ve all been there—staring at a blank slide, trying to sound 'professional,' and before we know it, we’re using words we’d never say out loud. This happens across the board, in every industry, because there’s this natural tendency to think that complex language makes us sound more credible.

In reality, all it does is create friction. Your audience has to work harder to get through the words, and before you know it, they’re tuning out, because they have to spend more energy decoding the message than actually absorbing it. If we’re trying to connect and inspire action, that’s a fail.

The three most common language traps that make slides hard to follow are: jargon, overly formal language, and technical terms.

• Jargon: It’s industry-specific language that feels natural to us but doesn’t mean much to others. In tech, you’ll hear “synergy” or “scalability.” To anyone outside that circle, it’s just noise.
• Formal language: We’re talking about words like “commence,” “endeavor,” or “facilitate.” They sound polished but can come off as stiff, making your slides feel distant or formal.
• Technical terms: Sometimes, you have to be specific, but if your audience isn’t in the weeds with you, words like “amortization” or “asynchronous transfer modes” create a disconnect. They’re tuning out before you even get to the good stuff.

When you're writing slide copy, it helps to imagine you’re explaining your idea to a close friend who’s not in your industry. How would you put it to them? Would you say, ‘We’re facilitating robust solutions to optimize engagement’? No! You’d say, ‘We’re helping people connect better,’ or ‘We’re making this easier for you to use.’ Everyday language is what brings people in. It’s what makes people feel like, ‘Hey, this person’s talking to me, not just to some corporate crowd.’ And when people feel that, they’re much more likely to trust you.

Simplification in Action: Create a Clear Path for Your Audience to Follow.

When you simplify the language on your slides, you create a clear, easy path for your audience to follow. They don’t have to work to understand you—they just get it. Here’s the process:

1. Step 1: Use familiar language
   ​To connect, write the way your audience speaks. Ditch jargon and corporate language; imagine you're explaining it to a friend or someone new to the concept. Ask, What’s the simplest, most natural way to say this?
2. Step 2: Focus on one idea
   ​Good slide copy doesn’t try to cover everything at once. Each sentence should communicate a single, clear point. If it feels like you're trying to squeeze in too much, break it down. What’s the one thing they need to know here? Stick to that.
3. Step 3: Make it visual or tangible​
   Use language that paints a clear picture. Instead of “our team is successful,” say, “our team hit every target this year.” Specifics give people something concrete to hold onto. Imagine you’re giving them something they can see or feel.
4. Step 4: Read It out loud​
   If it doesn’t sound conversational or it feels clunky, it’ll probably read that way too. Reading out loud helps spot awkward phrasing, so make sure it flows naturally.

Why It Matters

When you use simple, straightforward language, your audience doesn’t have to work to figure out what you’re saying. They get it right away, and that means they’re engaged, focused, and ready to take action. If you’re making people decode jargon or overly complex words, you’re creating a wall between you and your message. The faster people understand you, the faster they’re on board.

Try It

Grab an old presentation or one you're currently working on—look for a slide that's guilty of using complicated language: jargon, formal language, or technical terms. Duplicate the slide and make the following changes:

1. Start by reading through your slide and highlighting any words or phrases that are:
   • Unclear to outsiders (e.g., "synergize"): Buzzwords or jargon that could be vague or ambiguous to those not familiar with the context.
   • Overly formal (e.g., "utilize"): More complex words where simpler, more common alternatives exist.
   • Technical (e.g., "asynchronous transfer modes"): Terms specific to a particular industry or field that might not be universally understood.
2. For each instance, think of a simpler, more common word or phrase that conveys the same meaning. The goal is to make your content as clear as possible without losing the intended message. For example, if your slide says, "Our solution facilitates robust, real-time data aggregation and comprehensive analytics to optimize your strategic decision-making processes," you could revise it to: "Our tool quickly pulls together and analyzes data to help you make better decisions."
3. Once you’ve revised the slide, show both the original and the simplified version to a friend or colleague. Ask them which is clearer or easier to understand. This can give you insight into how your language lands with a real audience.

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Until next week,
Meghan
Founder, The Good Deck