2. Avoid lengthy
preambles
• G al w t eryou ae wit gett t
ener ly, haev r r ing, o he
ma point quickl a simpl
in , y nd y.
2
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3. Avoid obvious
grammatical errors
• E lyinsering singl a r
special t e post ophes w e incorect
her r .
• Pr bl t bestr e forsa use ofa r
oba y he ul fe post ophes is t
o
r r t use simpl t possessiv (e.g., gir's book,
est ict heir yo e l
gr a a missing l t s in w ds (e.g., I'm,
oup's ims) nd eter or
you'r w e).
e, e'v
3
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4. Use short
sentences
• M e t n fift w ds in asent r
or ha een or ence educes t
he
cl r yoft mea A erdr ft your
ait he ning. ft a ing
communicaion, seek outcomma a 'a a
t s nd nd's, nd
r a w h ful- ops.
epl ce it lst
4
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5. Write as you
would speak
( but ensure it's grammatically
correct.)
• Don'tt yt be for l Don'tuse ol fa
r o ma. d- shioned
figur ofspeech.
es
5
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6. Avoid jargon,
acronyms, technical
terms unless essential.
• M ke sur t tev yone ca under a w t
a e ha er n st nd ha
you ae wit a .
r r ing bout
6
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7. Go back to basics:
S ubject – Verb
Agreement
• M ke t subj a v b a ee w h ea
a he ect nd er gr it ch
ot , notw h aw d t tcomes bet een
her it or ha w
them.
7
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8. Brevity is key
• Omitunnecessayw ds, a choose simpl
r or nd e
w ds r t t n highfaut ones.
or aher ha l ing
8
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9. Re-read, Revise and
Edit!
• R d t fina r tbefor pr ing. Check
ea he l epor e int
eror a edititbefor you hitt “ct lP”
r s nd e he r
buton.
t
9
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10. Remember that effective
written communication is
enabling the reader to
understand your
meaning in as few words
as possible.
10
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