Management Tip of the Day: Don't Bore Your Audience with Your Writing

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile APRIL 24, 2013 Don't Bore Your Audience with Your Writing No one wants their writing to put readers to sleep. And yet, many managers write boring and repetitive e-mails, reports, and letters. To keep your readers engaged, try the following: Use personal pronouns skillfully. Don't overuse I (try not to begin paragraphs or successive sentences with it), but do lean heavily on we, our, you, and your. Those are friendly words that pull readers in. Use contractions. Let go of your fear of contractions. You may have been taught to avoid phrases like "can't" and "that's," but they counteract stuffiness, a major cause of poor writing. Avoid passive voice. Passive voice results in convoluted, backward-sounding sentences. When possible, give every action an active voice. Don't write, "The closing documents were prepared by Sue"; instead write, "Sue prepared the closing documents." Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Don't Anesthetize Your Colleagues with Bad Writing" by Bryan A. Garner. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Heart of Entrepreneurship Collection: Your Road to Success Special Collection Do you have what it takes to build a great business? In a world where you can no longer plan or predict your way to success, how can you achieve your most important goals? This specially priced 3-volume collection will help you survive and thrive in your entrepreneurial business venture. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Give Up Email Altogether Keep Innovation Jams Small and Focused Avoid Visual Clichés When Presenting Find Out How Skilled a Job Candidate Really Is Aim for Smart Failure How to Connect With a Remote Colleague Allocate Your Time and Your Effort Act with Care When Someone Cries at Work Perfect Your Personal Elevator Pitch Use Personal Rituals to Make Changes Stick All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)