Effective communication must grab the interest of your reader and get them to act on the material they’ve just read.
It will also help you present an appropriate image to the reader.
Guidelines for written communications
Clearly defined subject – The subject or title of your material should be clear.
The information contained in the material should satisfy the readers’ needs.
Clarity – Your message should be clear and easy for the reader to understand.
Conciseness – Concise sentences are informative, brief and to the point.
Credibility – The information should be accurate. Do your research before writing the material to make sure you can back up your claims or the information presented.
Use words effectively – Use words the reader is more likely to understand.
Use plain, simple words – Big words don’t always convey the proper message.
Be precise – Tell them what they need to know. Do not run on with useless words and language.
Clarify technical language – Make sure the reader knows what you’re talking about by using definitions when needed.
Avoid over used words and phrases – It annoys people.
Create readable sentences – Sentences should be understood without having to be read more than once.
Write complete sentences – Try to use complete sentences whenever possible.
Write efficient sentences – If the reader does not get the meaning of your message it’s possible that your sentences were not as clear and helpful as they could be.
Use an active voice - An active voice gets greater response from readers.
Writing effectively takes practice. Your first draft will not be perfect; the rewriting and editing stages are where you learn many of the tips listed above. But your copy will be more professional and your readers will benefit from material that is clear and concise.
