Writing for Business Success/Effective business writing/Clarity

Clarity in business writing is not a luxury.

On this page, we explore three techniques to make written communications clearer:
 * using precise language
 * choosing plain words instead of complicated ones
 * defining lists with bullet points and numbers.

Precision
Business communication should be clear, specific, and full of meaning. For example:

Plain Words
When trying to enhance your reputation, it is tempting to use complex words in order to appear intelligent and sophisticated. Unfortunately, this tends to make your ideas difficult to understand and could potentially damage your credibility. Remember the focus of your writing should be on the reader understanding the message. Instead of focusing on “sounding intelligent,” concentrate on writing accurate content with precise, unambiguous words, so that your message is transmitted clearly. In other words, be precise and understandable.

Lists
Lists can be used in several ways. Working with numbered lists or bulleted lists is a fast way to draw attention to several items. Lists add white space to a document, which helps the reader. They add emphasis because they stand out on the page. Numbered lists are often used either when order of importance matters, or when the number of items in the list matters.

Acknowledgements
The content on this page (apart from the activity) was adapted from Word choice and tone, authored by Susan Kendall and provided by Lumen Learning under a CC-BY-4.0 licence. The content is part of the online course Business communication skills for managers.