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Comlec

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Consider this before you post.

Using familiar words to communicate with the public, rather than complex nomenclature, is essential for several key reasons:

1. Clarity and Understanding
When communicating with the general public, clarity is paramount. Familiar words ensure that the message is easily understood by a wide audience. Complex jargon can confuse people, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Clear communication ensures that the information is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or expertise.

2. Engagement and Trust
People are more likely to engage with and trust information that they understand. Using simple, familiar language helps to build a connection with the audience. It shows that you respect their level of knowledge and are committed to making the information accessible. This approach fosters trust and encourages a positive relationship between the communicator and the audience.

3. Effective Communication
The primary goal of communication is to convey a message effectively. When complex terms are used, the audience might spend more time trying to decipher the language rather than focusing on the content. By using straightforward language, you ensure that the core message is delivered efficiently and effectively.

4. Inclusivity
Using familiar words ensures that the communication is inclusive. It allows people from diverse educational and professional backgrounds to access and understand the information. This inclusivity is particularly important in public communications, where the audience can vary widely in terms of knowledge and experience.

5. Avoiding Miscommunication
Technical jargon and complex nomenclature can often lead to miscommunication. Words that have specific meanings in a professional context might be misunderstood by the general public. By using everyday language, you minimize the risk of such misunderstandings, ensuring that the message is conveyed accurately.

6. Enhancing Recall and Retention
Information presented in simple, familiar terms is more likely to be remembered. The public can recall and act on information more effectively when it is presented clearly and straightforwardly. This is particularly important in situations where the public needs to follow instructions or remember key details.

Summary
In summary, using familiar words when dealing with the public ensures that communication is clear, engaging, effective, inclusive, and minimizes the risk of miscommunication. It respects the audience’s level of understanding and helps to build trust and a positive relationship.
 
No one is asking you to use complex jargon. But the CORRECT terms are essential. Using terms that mean something else is detrimental to both the public and those on the forum.
 
No one is asking you to use complex jargon. But the CORRECT terms are essential. Using terms that mean something else is detrimental to both the public and those on the forum.
WRONG!

Terms the public will use and understand are essential. Being perfect (which you are not) can cause confusion.

Also your witterings about "getting 3 quotes" don't help when a poster is in a situation. The poster needs helpful constructive advice, not a demoralising "you should have done this....." attitude.
 
Using terms that mean something else is detrimental to both the public and those on the forum.

To use a metaphor, now a very old proverb - when you are in a hole you should stop digging.

In UK English, the word detrimental means causing harm or damage. It is typically used to describe something that has a negative effect or impact on a person, thing, or situation. For example, "Smoking is detrimental to your health" means that smoking causes harm to your health.

It would help us all if you give actual examples of the 'detriment' caused to forum users.
 
To use a metaphor, now a very old proverb - when you are in a hole you should stop digging.

In UK English, the word detrimental means causing harm or damage. It is typically used to describe something that has a negative effect or impact on a person, thing, or situation. For example, "Smoking is detrimental to your health" means that smoking causes harm to your health.

It would help us all if you give actual examples of the 'detriment' caused to forum users.
I have an example.

@Wellwisher is detrimental to the forum :oops:
 
I think professional consensus is very important in the context of a trade forum, or to put it another way, a trade forum that answers questions asked by the public that doesn't have a professional consensus, that is agreement among experts even if there are other possible ways of doing a thing, is not a useful resource, unreliable and ultimately a waste of time asking.
 
Consider this before you post.

Using familiar words to communicate with the public, rather than complex nomenclature, is essential for several key reasons:

1. Clarity and Understanding
When communicating with the general public, clarity is paramount. Familiar words ensure that the message is easily understood by a wide audience. Complex jargon can confuse people, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Clear communication ensures that the information is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or expertise.

2. Engagement and Trust
People are more likely to engage with and trust information that they understand. Using simple, familiar language helps to build a connection with the audience. It shows that you respect their level of knowledge and are committed to making the information accessible. This approach fosters trust and encourages a positive relationship between the communicator and the audience.

3. Effective Communication
The primary goal of communication is to convey a message effectively. When complex terms are used, the audience might spend more time trying to decipher the language rather than focusing on the content. By using straightforward language, you ensure that the core message is delivered efficiently and effectively.

4. Inclusivity
Using familiar words ensures that the communication is inclusive. It allows people from diverse educational and professional backgrounds to access and understand the information. This inclusivity is particularly important in public communications, where the audience can vary widely in terms of knowledge and experience.

5. Avoiding Miscommunication
Technical jargon and complex nomenclature can often lead to miscommunication. Words that have specific meanings in a professional context might be misunderstood by the general public. By using everyday language, you minimize the risk of such misunderstandings, ensuring that the message is conveyed accurately.

6. Enhancing Recall and Retention
Information presented in simple, familiar terms is more likely to be remembered. The public can recall and act on information more effectively when it is presented clearly and straightforwardly. This is particularly important in situations where the public needs to follow instructions or remember key details.

Summary
In summary, using familiar words when dealing with the public ensures that communication is clear, engaging, effective, inclusive, and minimizes the risk of miscommunication. It respects the audience’s level of understanding and helps to build trust and a positive relationship.

As a non spark but former lecturer and before that site manager I would endorse these points as some of the most sensible comments I've read on this forum in a long time. They apply to communicating with students and dopey labourers equally well.

I do wonder if some of the contributors realise just how pathetic and ridiculous they come over to the likes of me and the original posters.

I wonder how long Screwfix will allow this silliness to continue: they seem to have sorted the Trolls but AI seems to be getting worse and genuine sensible queries on the decline. Perhaps they want it to die?
 
No one is asking you to use complex jargon. But the CORRECT terms are essential. Using terms that mean something else is detrimental to both the public and those on the forum.
At least you have worked out who it is aimed at, correct terms are normally those which the manufacturer has selected. If they call there product Mars then Mars it is.
 
If the correct terms are always used the public will understand them.
If this is your belief then I respect your right to hold it.
But if you regard the statement as fact then you are in for a shock if you ever have to deal with the public.

Let me illustrate your niaivity with an example from the world of IT support.

In the sentence I just typed I spelt a word incorrectly (niaivity). If I asked any normal person how to correct it they would probably say something like "Just put the cursor over the word and right-click and pick the correct spelling".
If asked a Microsoft Certified Product Specialist I would be asked to "click the secondary mouse button" which, as you like to insist, is the 'correct term' for the action.
In my long career I have never met anyone other than MCPs/MCSEs/MCTs who use the term.
Oh, and don't get me started on how to explain the box on your desk that you load with printer paper is not actually called a printer.
 
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