My thesis was full of codewords: technical terms and jargon that would have been tough for the uninitiated to break.
Genus 2 manifold. Unoriented link. Plait presentation.
How coded is your thesis? Jargon can save on words and be a shorthand for precision. It can also keep people out – maybe even you!
Check your codewords during your viva preparation. Make a short glossary to be sure of your definitions. Decode tricky terms in the margins. Stick in Post-it Notes with concise explanations.
Unpicking the meaning of words can help you think about how to explain them even better.
