Everyday jargon, explained

Explainers

Plain-English explanations of the terms that turn up in money, property, health and paperwork, written the same way we explain slang.

  • Money and credit
  • Property and renting
  • Health and insurance
  • Paperwork and legal terms

2 entries.

Explainers

APR

The number that tells you what borrowing really costs

Explainers

Escrow

When a neutral third party holds the money until everyone delivers

About this section

Not all confusing words come from the internet. Loan adverts, tenancy agreements, insurance policies and medical letters are full of terms that everyone is assumed to know. This section explains them the same way we explain slang: the meaning first, then where the word came from, how it is really used, and the misunderstandings worth avoiding. Nothing here is professional advice.

Every piece is written or edited to our editorial policy: plain English, sources checked, and corrections made when we get something wrong. Guest contributions follow the same standards; see writing for us.