You should demand language precision from those whose words you encounter, especially if you’re going to take them seriously or let them sell you something.
Recently, while listening to a football podcast, I heard an advertisement for an online betting class. One sound bite from the promoted “expert” gave short shrift to risk management:
Hedging is for gardens.
The idea of hedging in betting might not appeal to those who romance living on the edge, but it’s a good strategy to mitigate risk. Although the statement “Hedging is for gardens” is witty, it’s imprecise. And that imprecision should have you shaking your head. True, you admire the guy’s wit, but here’s the problem: imprecision in language gets you further away from the truth.
Language shapes our understanding of the world. Words don’t just communicate surface-level information; they also set the framework for how we process and act on that information. If someone is using imprecise language, you should start to question whether they really know what they’re talking about and whether they have your best interests in mind.
When you hear the word “hedge” in a betting context, your brain activates an existing frame for risk-management strategy. It understands that hedging involves making two bets to reduce loss. But when you hear “hedging is for gardens,” that frame is disrupted, and now a different frame is activated: one related to actual garden hedges. That play on words might make you laugh, but it also exposes an underlying lack of clarity.
When you find someone’s language to be imprecise, it should start you on the continuum of not taking them seriously. You should wonder if they know what they’re talking about. You should start to question whether or not they care about you. This applies to anyone where you’ll make decisions based on their information: imprecise language signals a lack of accountability.
So, when you hear advice like “Hedging is for gardens,” don’t just laugh it off as a joke. Ask yourself: Is this person’s advice trustworthy, or are they using language to cover up gaps in either their expertise or their concern for your well-being?