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
Sail the ‘7 Seas’ … again
Please excuse the bogus link in last month’s Quickie. Here’s the short piece you should have seen with a properly working link:
Sail the Seven Cs
Effective Workplace Writing should pass the ‘7 Cs Test.’ Is it:
Power Point – Abbreviations
This month’s Workplace Writing Power Point covers Abbreviations. I just wish there was a simple abbreviation for abbreviation. So, if you want … or need … what you write at work to be accurate and consistent, follow these simple suggestions:
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’.
Another ‘Power Point’
Looks like my new Workplace Writing ‘Power Points’ feature is generating some nice buzz.
Workplace Writing – Does It Really Matter?
A reader recently asked about the impact of poor workplace writing skills. Here’s a summary of our conversation.
Another Workplace Writing ‘Power Pointer’
Based on reader reaction and input, looks like this new section is a hit and you want more of it. Remembering that your effective workplace writing should pass the ‘7-C Test’ – is is Clear, Conversational, Concise, Consistent, Credible, Compelling and Correct, here’s a Power Pointer for ‘Conversational’.
I Don’t Get … The Plural They
Looks like this new rant category is catching on with readers. Thanks for your feedback and suggestions. I’ll post a new one each month in various content categories.
KISS Your Verbosity Goodbye
Time to deal with an often unpleasant reality. As business leaders, we spend a lot of each day writing – emails, reports, proposals, marketing materials, evaluations, even texts … well, you get the picture. We should all add the title ‘Workplace Writer’ to our business cards.