I got an email from someone today asking: 'when I wrote RIA, did I mean Rich Internet Applications or Registered Investment Advisors?'
Of course, it is the sloppy journalist who relies on jargon (or acronyms!) in their writing. The easiest way to make sure your readers understand what you are saying, is to say it in plain, simple and straightforward language.
However, it is not just humble hacks that fire off hasty emails. Pity the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) who sent the letter,
Personal and Private Banking -- Keeping You Informed, to Chrissie Maher, founder of the Plain English Society. She wrote back, suggesting they rename their customer correspondence
Keeping you Confused.
A useful link in the
WSJ story is a glossary of financial terms, with helpful
'plain English' translations.