I don’t get why so many workplace communicators still prefer vague words or phrases. Whether the choice is conscious or not, ‘specific beats vague’ every time.
Workplace Writing Power Points
Lose Lame Lines
An often- overlooked element in any workplace email or memo is the simple little Subject Line. Depending on their content, they can add to the message or detract from the writer’s image of competency. So … here are a few tips to Lose Lame Lines:<!-
- ‘No Subject’ – the absence of a subject line is really lame. That says the writer was too lazy to think of something or too unimaginative. While either could be true, neither reader assumption helps the writer’s credibility. So … anything is better than nothing.
- ‘Meeting’ – at least better than ‘no subject’, but not much. It does tell the reader something about the message. Less helpful if the reader attends lots of meetings, however.
I Don’t Get It – Redundancies
Your Redundancies Are Laughable
We’ve gotten into some sloppy habits regarding redundancy. While this tendency may not be a major problem in verbal or written communication, it does waste words and the result is often amusing. Unless you’re a comedian, you probably don’t want people chuckling about what you say or write. So, here are some reminders.
Workplace Writing Power Point – Short Words
Here’s this month’s Power Point – whenever a short, simple, familiar word is just as clear or clearer as a longer word, use the shorter word. The extra syllables don’t add anything to your meaning and may detract from your image as a real, down-to-earth person. But don’t trade clarity for brevity. Think ‘Twitter’ and save some of those characters for another message.
Workplace Writing Power Points – ‘Very’
One of my favorite engaged readers mentioned a one-day ‘English Refresher’ course he took years ago in which the professor stressed never using the word ‘very’. My response was very focused and very brief.
I Don’t Get It – Noun Phrases
Here’s my newest rant in the Workplace Writing Power Points category. I don’t get why people still use lame noun phrases. So, let me challenge some word use habits, like this one carried over from those 500-word essay days in high school.
Tone of Words?
This month’s ‘Workplace Writing Power Point’ deals with the Tone of your Words. We all learned about Tone of Voice in freshman speech class – the way your words sound can overshadow their meaning and have a profound impact on your listener or audience. Good stuff – hope you still use it.
Activate Active Voice
This month’s Workplace Writing Power Point activates Active Voice. And you get two points every time you use it over Passive Voice – for ‘Concise’ and ‘Conversational’.
More Workplace Writing Power Points
Several months ago, we launched a new feature of brief Workplace Writing ‘Power Points’. Going forward, we’ll share more of these simple tips to help your writing pass the ‘7-C Test’ and become more Clear, Conversational, Concise, Consistent, Credible, Compelling & Correct.