5 steps to simplifying your message
How can you clarify your message?
The authors of “Complex to Clear: Managing Clarity in Corporate Communication” developed this CLEAR mnemonic for simplifying your subject:
clear writing
Write about people doing things
To cut your syllable count, make subjects characters
“It is good to write clearly,” wrote Joseph M. Williams, “and anyone can.”
Williams developed “The Little Red Schoolhouse” writing course at the University of Chicago.… Read the full article
Add words, paralyze readers
More information = poorer decisions
One of the most complex decisions we ask consumers to make is to choose among health insurance plans.
It’s not uncommon for consumers to have to compare more than 15 plans on each of 10 to 12 factors.… Read the full article
Polish your paragraphs
Encourage readership by making them tight
When researchers for The Poynter Institute looked into what makes people read online, they found that one key predictor of attention was paragraph length.