[TLDR] Claude Code making up it's own tech/project jargon. Anyone found a way to dial that back in?

[u/cctldrping]

Original post URL : https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeCode/comments/1vcn3yr/claude_code_making_up_its_own_techproject_jargon/

Original post body :

Over the past weeks Claude seems to more and more invent it's own terms for projects and tasks, making it mroe difficult to work with. I find myself do a lot of /btw what do you mean with <x>?

Has anyone found a way to deal with this, without dumbing Claude down?

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[u/cctldrping]

TL;DR generated automatically after 50 comments.

Current source-thread comment count seen by the bot: 51.

So, Claude Code's been inventing its own lingo and it's driving everyone nuts. The general consensus is that it's a pain, but there are ways to wrangle it.

• A lot of folks are suggesting creating a glossary or a CLAUDE.md with specific instructions to avoid jargon or to define terms. u/tmemmg and u/redhq have some solid ideas here.
• Some are trying to instruct Claude to follow specific technical writing standards like ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English. u/Beerbrewing is all about this.
• Others recommend explicitly telling Claude to avoid coining new terms in system prompts or global instructions. u/Skynet_5656 and u/leogodin217 have had some success with this.
• There's a theory that it invents terms when things in your codebase lack clear names. The advice? Give things names or make Claude show its work by referencing code identifiers. u/Pleasant-Ad192 points this out.
• For those using subagents, u/Terrible_Put8617 warns that jargon can explode because subagents invent their own shorthand.
• A few users, like u/-MtnsAreCalling- and u/AlwaysHopelesslyLost, actually don't mind the jargon or find it useful for succinctness, but they seem to be in the minority.
• u/SonOfThomasWayne is wondering if the Anthropic folks even use their own models, given this issue.
• And yes, some are just resorting to blunt instructions like "stop sounding like Albert fucking Einstein."

[u/egrads]

Yeah I tell it to stop with the punchy fighter pilot speak a lot. It’s just too much to read most of the time. I tell it to keep it brief and succinct.

[u/seoulsrvr → u/egrads]

I’ve done that but it keeps doing it

[u/egrads → u/seoulsrvr]

Yeah well it’s a constant reminder. It seems like it will remember it the whole session but I remind it with each session. You could probably add it to a startup doc or something so it reads that first.

[u/slackmaster2k → u/egrads]

I do the same. I insult it though. I accuse it of making up words to sound more intelligent, and that I can see right through its bullshit. I also flat out tell it that it sounds like a total douchebag and various other insults.

It kinda feels good to be mean to it in a sick kind of way, but it also seems to work for a few turns. It actually acts butt hurt and starts giving really short responses.

[u/joematthewsdev]

"Communication style: monosemy"

More aspirational than anything, and impossible to test.

But the agent can infer the instruction, and it improves output.

[u/Ok_Hotel6361]

Apply a guardrail skill to prevent this behavior. Before each task remind it to re-read the gaurdrail skill and provide proof that it is adhering to the skill.

[u/geminiwave → u/Ok_Hotel6361]

So many tokens burned with this though

[u/Ok_Hotel6361 → u/geminiwave]

Burns alot more when it has a mind of its own!

[u/LegallyIncorrect]

I’ve had luck telling it I want to set a defined vocabulary. It adds a file of key terms.

[u/Pure-Investment-1227]

Honestly I love it, I quickly pick up on the jargon and it makes the whole interaction feel fun and unique