“What other words besides these can or should be used that are not so confusing?”

The truth. Biologically accurate terms. Maybe keep the term “trans” since no matter what you believe or how you feel or how well informed you may be, most people understand the concept of what trans means. I’d rather stop implying/stating that “transition” means someone has changed sex/gender, but I think maybe at this point the term itself is fine because we know what it refers to politically/socially.

The truth is always less confusing, and using accurate and honest language would mean everyone is using relevant words in the same way with the same meaning, no confusion. Literally just explain that someone has dysphoria (if that’s the case) and takes cross sex hormones, changed their name, surgeries (where and when applicable and relevant) etc

Stop using the terms “mtf” “ftm” “sex change/reassignment”, use the term cross sex hormones/hormone therapy instead of hrt,

Call bottom surgeries GRS, meaning genital reconstruction, not gender reassignment or anything similar to what that implies

We don’t need to make up more or create new terms, we should just be calling it what it truly is, that eliminates most confusion. And things that aren’t true shouldn’t be said.

And sex is observed, maybe in reference to an intersex person, it’s determined (but still determined through observation).