Conventional phrases have existed in business letters since at least 1589, but
both the number of phrases in conventional use and the phrases which consti
tute jargon have changed. Texts have criticized jargon since at least 1914, but
the phrases texts criticize continue to be used. Terms become conventional be
cause inexperienced business writers copy existing correspondence. Jargon
persists because people think that business letters should use jargon and be
cause using jargon enables authors to write or dictate quickly.
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