Language Precision Has Multiplicative Effects
by Peter Dang on June 22, 2025
Peter Dang believes that language fundamentally shapes how we think and make decisions, creating a powerful ripple effect throughout an organization's work.
When I was in college, I took a class called "Language and Thought" that explored how language affects thinking. This insight has stayed with me throughout my career. I've observed firsthand how the words we choose create mental frameworks that guide decision-making. When crafting slide decks, I obsess over those 20 or so words that capture the essence of what we're trying to communicate.
This precision matters deeply in product development. If you're not intentional with the words in vision docs or PRDs, people will misinterpret things. There's a multiplicative downstream effect when you use the wrong word. A small imprecision at the beginning becomes magnified as work progresses through teams.
The power of language extends beyond documentation. At Facebook, we carefully architected the sharing loop for News Feed by thinking deeply about the information architecture and user flow. That careful consideration of language and structure is why that design has stood the test of time for over a decade.
For product builders, this means you should invest disproportionate time in the words you use to frame problems and solutions. When defining product direction, treat language as a design material. The difference between "we're building a tool that helps people connect" versus "we're creating an experience that makes people feel less lonely" leads to fundamentally different product decisions.
Teams should also recognize that language creates culture. The frameworks and metaphors you use daily shape how people approach problems. At Uber, we developed a framework of five PM archetypes (consumer, growth, business, platform, and research) that gave people permission to lean into their natural strengths rather than forcing everyone into the same mold.
When you're precise with language, you create clarity that enables autonomy. This is why I tell people I hire: "In six months, if I'm still telling you what to do, I've hired the wrong person." This simple statement creates a shared understanding of expectations and a framework for growth that benefits both the individual and the organization.