Without overloading you with things to consider for when writing, please:
- Think about who your target readers are. Select your audience by experience level, department or industry, organisation type, role, geography and/or topic. Remember that the first thing that will be immediately apparent to your readers is whether or not you are accustomed to reading the kinds of documents you are writing.
- Include information that is current and timely. Ask why the information you present is important to your readers.
- Be considerate of your readers’ time constraints. Be efficient, economical and concise while providing the details that are important to your reader. Emphasise the practical and illustrate it with specifics. Avoid repetition. Avoid repetition!
- Follow a style guide, or at least choose a language preference, based on the reader/journal/book requirements. This will minimise time wasted in editing and will enhance the reader’s experience.
- Masterful writing requires that we be complete, clear, concise, correct, coherent, consistent, convincing, relevant, ordered and logical, as well as that we not omit anything essential (referred to as coverage).
- Avoid the indirect and passive whenever possible.
- Retain reference (i.e. when using it, he, she or they) – it should be clear what or whom you are referring to).
- In every case, be clear about whether singular or plural is appropriate (including singular or plural possessive).