Short, clear, and right. These three characteristics give writing impact by respecting your readers' time while they convey your message. But they're harder to capture than they seem. In this video, get an overview of how they apply to a variety of business writing forms, and why they improve reader engagement.
- Good writing does not withhold.…It gives value right from the start…while promising yet more to keep the reader hooked.…So it's only fair that I give you…the essence of this course up front…with the understanding that the details are yet to come.…In short, it comes down to three points:…write short, write clear, and write right.…You write short to get the most out of…a limited resource: attention.…And it's really, really limited.…A study by the contents analytics company, Chartbeat,…found that half of website visitors…click away within 15 seconds…and YouTube has six-second ads.…
But no matter how much time you have…you want to make as strong an impact as possible…right up front.…So choose your words carefully and throw away the rest.…You write clear to get the most out of…another limited resource: understanding.…Writing clear means knowing how people read generally…and how your audience reads specifically.…But writing clear also means being clear in your head…before you write.…You can only convey understanding…
Author
Tom Geller
Released
11/8/2018- Paraphrase the goals of “write short, write clear, and write right.”
- Recall the strategy used to make long paragraphs easier to read.
- Identify the most-often portion of the page neglected by English-language readers.
- Determine which words to omit from writing.
- Explain why short paragraphs are easy to skim.
- Name two strategies to write more effectively.
- Identify examples of assonance.
Skill Level Intermediate
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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1. What Is Writing with Impact?
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Impact requires purpose2m 59s
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2. Learning about Your Readers
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Seeing through readers' eyes2m 53s
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Using high-context language3m 43s
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3. Understanding How People Read
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Go where the eyes are2m 58s
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4. Write Short
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Getting to the point2m 37s
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Shortening each sentence3m 19s
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Managing paragraph lengths3m 20s
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5. Write Clear
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Bringing out your voice3m 20s
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6. Write Right
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Matching style to genre3m 23s
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Conclusion
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Next steps1m 58s
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Video: Three top tips for writing with impact