Someone asks what a term means, and the explanation begins with ‘Obviously…’ The word adds no information. It can make the person less willing to ask the next useful question.
Define the term in ordinary language and connect it to the task. ‘A canonical URL is the preferred address for a page when more than one version exists’ gives a starting point. Then show the relevant example if the person needs it.
Do not assume that unfamiliarity with a word means unfamiliarity with the underlying idea. People may use a different term, work in another field or understand the concept without knowing its formal label.
Check the explanation without turning it into a test: ‘Would an example help?’ often works better than asking the person to prove they followed every detail.
If the technical term will be used repeatedly, explain it once and use it consistently. If it is unnecessary, replace it with simpler wording.
Before sending an explanation, remove any phrase that evaluates the person instead of explaining the subject. Clear teaching makes the idea more accessible. It should not require the reader to accept a lower status in the conversation just because they asked for a definition.