Cut Through the Clutter

Write like the Times: Keep words short

The newspaper of record covers rocket science & brain surgery in simple terms

When I recommend to my clients that they limit their word length to 5 characters per word, they roll their eyes and chortle.… Read the full article

What is the word length effect?

Long words are stuffy and hard to read

Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry spent eight years teaching businesspeople how to write better. As he told Time magazine:

Take a tip from Barry: Avoid multisyllabic exhibitions of verbosity.… Read the full article

World computer technical literacy 2013

16% of adults are technologically illiterate

Just 8% of adults around the world can manage conflicting requests to reserve a meeting room using a reservation system, then email people to let them know whether they got the room they requested.… Read the full article

Harness the power of one

Single-syllable words can shock, jolt and pop

By Mim Harrison, author of Smart Words

“Samuel Clemens” meanders. “Mark Twain” stands up straight and takes charge.

John F.… Read the full article

Don’t commit verbicide: Choose verbs, not nouns

Action words streamline syllables

This just in, writes one of my favorite correspondents, sharing a sentence his subject matter expert has written:

Somebody just kill me now, my friend writes.… Read the full article

Write like Churchill — in one-syllable words

‘Short words are best, and old words when short are the best of all’

What do you notice about this passage, excerpted from an article in The Economist?… Read the full article

Avoid the suitcase lead

Try a bikini lead instead

Some folks write “suitcase leads”: They try to cram all of the story elements into the top. Instead, make yours a bikini lead, and cover just the most interesting essentials.… Read the full article

Talk it out

Run the ‘Hey, did you hear?’ test

Having trouble nailing that “business casual” tone you’re aiming for? Try reading your message aloud — after a friendly greeting or phrase:

“Good morning, honey!

… Read the full article

Stop wasting readers’ time

They ‘get visibly angry’ at verbose sites

Here’s an interesting dichotomy: Killing time is the killer app for mobile devices. But mobile users are in a hurry and “get visibly angry” at verbose sites that waste their time.… Read the full article