Understanding it is the first step to writing active messages
What is the passive voice?
“It’s Yoda talk,” says one of my clients.
Well … not exactly.… Read the full article
Writing and editing
Write about people doing things
Use the active voice in writing
Which of these headlines is most likely to spur you to sign up for a webinar?
New webinar helps managers improve productivity
Or:
Get all your work done in half the time, be the office hero and go home early
The first focuses on the webinar.… Read the full article
Measure clarity with readability formulas
How to use Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog indexes
In 1946, a lawyer, author and writing consultant named Rudolph Flesch “started a revolution in journalism and business communication,” writes William Dubay, a readability consultant for Plain Language Services.… Read the full article
Top 2 ways to improve your readability score
Sentence length, word length make messages more readable
Want to see your Flesch Kincaid Grade Level drop? Your Flesch Reading Ease soar? Your Automated Readability Index hit the right target?… Read the full article
Headline writing don’ts
8 approaches to avoid
What’s in a name?
A great headline can mean the difference between a story that gets read — or one that gets passed over.… Read the full article
Avoid label headlines
Don’t just slap the topic on top of the story
Note to self: “Label headline” is not a headline.
Label headlines like Label headlines carry a double problem.… Read the full article
10 of Ann’s top writing tips
Get opened, boost readability, structure stories & more
New Year’s writing tips
6 writing resolutions to improve your copy in 2019
Want to achieve your New Year’s resolutions this year? Just do as I do: Resolve to watch more reality TV.… Read the full article
Readability score: Going up!
City communicator increases Flesch Reading Ease by 38.8%
Wendy Jorgensen’s job is to deliver city news to Plano, Texas, residents. Although the best way to do that is to make messages as readable as possible, city government messages in general have a reputation for being stodgy, dull and thick.… Read the full article
End with a bang
Leave a lasting impression in the kicker
Think of the kicker as the fireworks display at the end of the Fourth of July picnic. It’s the reader’s reward for making it to the end of the piece.… Read the full article