Write Right
By Bigg Success Staff
01-18-08
Career Builders
We move rapidly through our day. We shoot off a quick e-mail. txt msg a frend with abrve8d wrds. We may spell check our work, but we probably won’t read it. Do we check the grammar with our software program? Maybe. Proofread it? No way.
Writing is a lost art. Proofreading seems disdained. Great writers know that great writing is a process. They don’t expect a work of art on their first draft.
They write. They proofread. They edit. They repeat.
Finally, they sign off on their great work.
You communicate your message clearly when you write right. You build relationships. You advance your career! Toward that end, here are five tips to write right!
#1 – Write to your audience.
Your audience loves seeing the word “you.” They feel like you are writing to them. They want you to include them. Give them what they want! Use the “you-view” when you write.
#2 – Keep it simple.
Journalists write to eighth-graders. Does that show you what they think of our mental abilities? They don’t do it because they don’t think we will understand it. They do it to make sure that they don’t make their material overly complicated.
#3 – Don’t be pretentious.
Don’t use too many multi-syllabic words. You won’t impress anyone if they don’t understand you. Speaking of that, get rid of all jargon. It interferes with your message. Use real words.
#4 – Don’t be redundant.
Length doesn’t matter. Resist the urge to “fill.” Make your point. Then quit.
#5 – Use your active voice.
Remember this phrase – actor action. Write your sentences with that phrase in mind. Which one of the following two sentences communicates better?
Michael played his guitar.
The guitar was played by Michael.
Many people write passively – like the second sentence. Yet you get the picture more clearly with the first sentence, don’t you?
Now you’re ready to proofread. Then edit. Repeat until you’re satisfied! Keep these five tips in mind on your next writing project.
| Do you have a writing tip? We would love to hear it! Leave us a comment. |
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