We’re kicking off the New Year with simple tricks and heuristics that are guaranteed to improve your writing and help you develop a sharper sense of style. But, unlike the confusing and sometimes counterintuitive rules of traditional style guides, this series offers a refreshing and relevant take on writing readable texts of all kinds.
The curse of knowledge often leads to bad writing.
Have you ever stopped reading an article because it was filled with words you didn’t understand? Texts quickly become incomprehensible when the writer forgets that her readers are not all experts on the subject.
This curse of knowledge reflects the author’s inability to place herself in the shoes of the reader, who may only have a rudimentary understanding of the subject. So, what can you do to avoid this in your writing?
One simple method is to avoid any jargon, abbreviations or technical vocabulary that are only understood by people who are well-versed in the subject.
When you are firmly entrenched in a field such as science or sports, it is easy to forget that the language used in these subject areas isn’t necessarily comprehensible to everyone. For example, it’s still perfectly possible to write a compelling summary of your study on rodent behavior by writing “in relation to rats and mice” instead of the more technical term “murine.”
In the same vein, while abbreviations might save you time, there’s a good chance that they will waste the reader’s. In other words, don’t force your reader to look up abbreviations that he has no reason to be familiar with.
If you must use technical terms, define them when you introduce them. This will make things much easier for your reader.
Many writers also feel the need to prove their expertise, and so, in an attempt to prove their intellect, they fill their writing with high-level vocabulary and complicated definitions. Don’t fall into this trap. If you're writing to prove a point, studies have shown that readers will understand your arguments better if your writing is clear and concise — not bogged down by self-absorbed thoughts or technical mumbo-jumbo.
A good way to ensure that your writing is free of techno-babble is to imagine a potential reader looking over your shoulder as you write, reminding you when you use words that may not be immediately understood.
Until tomorrow…
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