About this quote

Jargon and bureaucratic fluff often hide a complete lack of substance. We encounter stringed-together buzzwords daily that pretend to carry deep meaning but actually say nothing at all. You do not have to pretend to understand nonsense just to avoid looking foolish. Demanding clarity is a sign of intelligence, not ignorance. Next time someone dumps a wall of over-complicated text on you, call it out.

When to use it

• Reading a new corporate policy memo that uses fifty lines of industry buzzwords to explain a simple shift schedule. 'I read the HR update three times and still have no idea if we are working on Friday.'
• Trying to decipher a poorly written university textbook chapter that overcomplicates a basic psychological concept. 'The author's explanation for basic habit loops is so tangled that I actually feel dumber after reading it.'
• Setting up a new smart home router and trying to follow the poorly translated instruction manual. 'The setup guide tells me to synchronize the atmospheric node, but I just want to connect to the internet.'