James Finn
Jan 23, 2021

--

Absolutely, great points all.

And I could add just from a writerly perspective that it’s usually best to avoid acronyms unless they are needed for a very specific purpose.

People writing to educate others about racism or issues that affect Black people or other people of color may find themselves preaching to the choir when they use in-group language and acronyms.

Clear, powerful writing is usually at its best when acronyms are avoided.

Of course, when writing technically, addressing activists or academics who are specialists in the subject, then acronyms are often helpful as a subset of specialist jargon.

But writing for the general reader is often more impactful when jargon like acronyms is kept to a minimum.

--

--

James Finn
James Finn

Written by James Finn

James Finn is an LGBTQ columnist, a former Air Force intelligence analyst, an alumnus of Act Up NY, and an agented but unpublished novelist.

Responses (2)