An easy tip for writing for your community
Written by Katie test Davis
I was in DC this spring, and I spotted someone wearing a tee shirt reading “words mean things”.
My husband, a software engineer, didn't understand why I instantly fangirled over this shirt.
But as leaders and communicators, you get it — words DO mean things. We have a responsibility to choose them wisely and understand how they land and how different people interpret them.
Let’s use a silly example to illustrate the point, shall we?
Take the phrase “hold your horses”.
A while ago, we asked our teammates what they imagined when they heard that idiom.
The results (illustrated by the talented Caroline Dacey based on our team’s descriptions) were hysterical:
So what’s a communicator to do? Avoid using words and phrases that can be misinterpreted when specificity could save you.
Also, use short paragraphs, short sentences and easy-to-understand language. We also recommend literally testing your writing for readability.
The Flesch Reading Ease test uses a formula that looks at how many words and sentences are in a message, along with number of syllables in each word. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to do the math each time — we’ve created a quick guide on how to use Microsoft Word to calculate the score!)
A high score on the Flesch Reading Ease test means it is easy to read.
In our Resource Library, we feature a free guide for Writing For Your Community, with step-by-step instructions on how to apply the Flesch test.
Write on, friends, and remember: words mean things.
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