This week I will discuss some things I have learned about keeping people in mind when writing and editing. If our goal is clarity, we should write in ways that people understand. One thing we should do is
CONSIDER THE READER'S POINT OF VIEW.
Anne Janzer, author of The Workplace Writer's Process says to "try to put yourself in the reader's situation and consider their mindset" (36). For example, if you were writing instructions for assembling a chair, you would want to consider the different types of people that might try to assemble the chair, and you would want to anticipate their questions.
GIVE EXAMPLES OR COMPARISONS
Examples can be short and simple. You could change "I find objects when I dig" to "I find objects like nails and paint cans when I dig." The examples in the second sentence add clarity.
TELL BRIEF STORIES
Edward P. Bailey, Jr., author of The Plain English Approach to Business Writing, says, "Sometimes ... the extra words a story requires are well worth the reader's time" (58). The stories you use can be fictitious or true, but let your audience know if the story is fictitious. Stories help people understand concepts and can help with clarity.
Don't forget the real people that will be trying to understand your document. Using these strategies can help!
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