Words are our most common means of communication. Because written words lack physical voice intonation or facial expressions to accompany them, it’s the writer’s job to choose words carefully so the message is correctly understood.

Guiding Principles*

Clear: Address the topic directly and thoroughly. Write in a manner easily understood by the reader, using simple words and sentences.
Friendly: Yes, we want to be clear in our writing, but not in a way that comes across as abrupt or even rude. Try to be warm and relatable. We’re all human!
Useful: Before you start writing, ask yourself: What purpose does this serve? Who is going to read it? What do they need to know?
Appropriate: Write in a way that suits the situation. Just like you do in face-to-face conversations, adapt your tone depending on who you’re writing to and what you’re writing about.

Best Practices

• Be concise. Try to use as few words as possible. Brevity helps get your message read!
• Check grammar and spelling. Consider using a tool such as Grammarly to help you.
• Have someone proofread for you.
• Avoid jargon, overused words, hype.