How To Write More Clearly
As you write anything, always keep in mind that you’re doing so for the reader’s benefit. You’re communicating a message and the clearer the writing, the better the reader can understand what you’re trying to convey.
- Never make the reader wonder who or what you’re talking about. The quickest way to avoid this situation is to never start the first sentence of a paragraph with a pronoun. If you want to be more proactive, then make sure every paragraph starts with a topic sentence that encapsulates the gist of what’s to come.
- Explain any item that some readers may not understand. If you mention anything that you suspect might go over any of your readers’ heads, take the time to explain it. Writing that extra sentence or two will be worth the trouble even if you’re only doing it for part of your target audience.
- Be serious about revision. Nothing will help clarity more than revising diligently. Read your text aloud, watching for any potential points of confusion and rewriting whenever necessary.
- Fix mechanical errors. While some readers can overlook grammar and spelling errors, they can seriously affect how clear your writing ends up. Either proofread manually or use a grammar software to ensure things are tight on this end.