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The Hidden Barrier: How Industry Acronyms Exclude and Hinder Multidisciplinary Progress

Dominic Medford
3 min readJun 17, 2024
Photo by Tim Collins on Unsplash

In every industry, acronyms are a staple. They’re designed for convenience, to streamline communication among those in the know. But there’s a dark side to this shorthand language: it can be exclusionary and stifle multidisciplinary progress. Here’s why we need to rethink our reliance on industry-specific acronyms.

The Exclusionary Nature of Acronyms

Imagine walking into a room where everyone speaks a language you don’t understand. That’s what it feels like for newcomers or outsiders trying to break into a specialized field. Industry-specific acronyms create an invisible barrier that separates insiders from outsiders.

Why This Matters

  • Discourages New Talent: Talented individuals from diverse backgrounds may shy away from industries laden with jargon they don’t understand.
  • Hinders Collaboration: Effective multidisciplinary collaboration relies on clear communication. Acronyms can create confusion and misinterpretation, hindering collaborative efforts.
  • Fosters an Exclusive Culture: Overuse of acronyms reinforces an “us vs. them” mentality, making industries seem inaccessible to those who could bring fresh perspectives.

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Dominic Medford
Dominic Medford

Written by Dominic Medford

Law and Political Sciences student in Australia who dabbles in writing about his thought processes in his spare time with the hope that it can be insightful.

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