Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Communication Matters
Convenience
THEREFORE -
How
to do it
your readers
Know your Target Audience
Visualize
WHO they are How they THINK what they know their EDUCATION level CULTURAL differences And more.
Use Familiar Words (use judgment to determine what words are familiar) Avoid using Slang (like Yaar, Yada-Yada, Like, Chumma) Use Clichs with caution
Weaker
Stronger
Additional compensation
Bonus Tycoon
Words
having clear and correct meaning in the readers mind. Prefer short and familiar words.
Example:
Technical Language
Improved Version
Covered employment
Little stroke
Prefer the concrete to the abstract Abstract We have found that this technique is successful
Concrete Our research shows that 87 percent of those using this technique are successful Prefer the Active Voice to the Passive Voice Passive Your report was read by the president Active The president read your report
Camouflaged Verb Cancellation of the order was made on the 12th. Elimination of the deficit was brought about by the change. The management of this office is conducted by Ms. Brown.
The change eliminated the deficit. Ms. Brown manages this office.
Learn the specific meanings of other words. Fewer: smaller number of items Less: reduced value Affect: to influence Effect: result
Use
Gender-Neutral pronouns
Reword to eliminate the offending word Make the reference plural Substitute a neutral expression