There’s nothing about business jargon that makes people sound smart any ways. The more people use it, the less convinced I am that they know what the hell they’re talking about.

I once used “historical context” as a sub-section in an email and proceeded to add precisely that. I felt it was far more concise than “Things that happened that lead up to the things happening now” and was told I was trying to be smart.

For one, I am not trying to sound smart. I am smart and this is how I write.

Secondly, I’m Black and accusations of trying to sound smart can be taken as I’m not smart (based on what), thus “trying to be” in affected ways.