Writing styles have changed enormously in recent years.
When I attended school, a long period way past, styles tended to be more formal, upright and aloof, as portrayed, I might contend, by the stiffness of this sentence.
No longer.
Now the world's become much more informal.
Short, sharp and simple.
Sentences abound which are far from fully formed.
With writing like this.
My company, Creative Warehouse, has just finished the website for a lovely start-up business here in Cambridge.
It's that which got me thinking about writing styles.
Look how informal my writing is for the Cambond website, in the picture.
Some of the changing nature of writing is due to society becoming more relaxed; much of it is down to the internet and social media.
But whatever and whyever, it means anyone who wants to be an effective communicator has to get comfortable with the way it is.
Otherwise they'll look as out of place as a kipper tie, platform shoes, and flared collars.
So, to help, here's my single, simple, but superstar of a trick for effective and accessible modern writing.
Effective Writing is Conversational Writing
Look again at that pompous waffle of a sentence from earlier:
- When I attended school, a long period way past, styles tended to be more formal, upright and aloof, as portrayed, I might contend, by the stiffness of this sentence.
That's a sentence designed to be read, rather than said.
No one would ever speak out loud like that.
Well, no one you'd want to spend time with, anyway.
Now look at the three sentences above.
And this one, come to that. And those which follow.
Notice the difference?
These are sentences designed to be spoken out loud.
And that's the key to modern writing.
Make it spoken, rather than the way you were taught to write at school.
Effective Writing Informality
When you speak, do you say there is, or there's? He is, or he's? They are, or they're?
That's one of the most important ways to make your writing informal and accessible.
Observe how people speak and learn from it.
That's the way to do it, rather than that is the way to do it.
You'll find it's remarkable what a difference conversational writing can make in creating a much more warm, friendly and open impression.
Effective Writing Sentences
If you do take time to observe people speaking, you'll notice something else.
- How short the sentences are.
Once again, translate that to your writing and it will instantly become more accessible and effective.
That's particularly important when you're writing websites, blogs, social media, or anything online.
Remember that most internet material will now be viewed on a phone.
And small screens don't lend themselves to long sentences.
Effective Writing Wordiness
Something else you'll notice about the spoken language is that people don't tend to use long words.
Yet when they come to write a paper, report, or anything formal, they often do.
Why is that?
Maybe an attempt to impress with their intellect, a hangover from school or college days, or just something we think we should do.
But for effective and accessible writing, it's best avoided.
Instead, just KISS - one of my favourite acronyms in the communication business.
- Keep It Short and Simple
Good communication shouldn't mean you need to have a dictionary in one hand, ready to refer to!
Effective Writing Email Wise
To be frank, I hate email.
So much of the subtlety of communication is lost in it.
Nuances of tone, facial expressions, humour, irony and much more.
But we're stuck with it, so one way to make our emails more accessible and effective is to use the informal writing trick.
Somehow, a message written in a more laid back and conversational style always seems to come across better.
Effective Writing Endpoint
In summary, to make your writing more effective and accessible, always check back, read it out loud...
And if it doesn't sound conversational, then think about rewriting and making it so.
A few small and subtle changes can make such a difference.
Simple as that.
By the way, if you need help designing, writing or building a website, or with any other communication challenges, please get in touch.
We'll be happy to help (note the conversational writing!)