Create a list of words you don't say.

Create a list of words you don’t say.

A controlled vocabulary doesn’t have to end with terms you intend to use. Go deeper by defining terms and concepts that misalign with your intent.

For the sake of clarity, you can also define:

Terms and concepts that conflict with a user’s mental model of how things work
Terms and concepts that have alternative meaning for users or stakeholders
Terms and concepts that carry historical, political, or cultural baggage
Acronyms and homographs that may confuse users or stakeholders

In my experience, a list of things you don’t say can be even more powerful than a list of things you do. I’ve been known to wear a whistle and blow it in meetings when someone uses a term from the don’t list.

How to Make Sense of Any Mess by Abby Covert

Create a list of words you don’t say.