Clear Writing Principles

Because Nobody Ever Complained That a Report Was Too Easy to Read

Mission Briefing

Clear writing is the difference between intelligence that drives action and intelligence that drives your reader to a nap. In this lesson, you will learn how to strip the fog from your prose, wield active voice like a scalpel, and apply the "grandmother test" to every sentence you write. Your analysis deserves to be understood -- let's make sure it is.

Fun fact: the average decision-maker has the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel. Write accordingly.

Debrief — Key Takeaways

›Use active voice by default -- save passive for unknown actors or source protection.
›Apply the grandmother test: if a smart non-specialist cannot follow it, simplify.
›Perform sentence surgery by killing throat-clearers, splitting compound sentences, and front-loading key information.
›Replace jargon with plain language -- 'use' beats 'utilize' every time.
›Tailor depth and tone to your specific audience tier.
›Be specific: replace vague words like 'several' and 'recently' with concrete numbers and dates.

TL;DR: Write like your reader is smart, busy, and allergic to the word 'utilize.'

What's Next?

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IntermediateReport Writing

15 min