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Your reader has a finite amount of attention to devote to your letter, e-mail, executive summary, or any other written communication. For more concise writing that allows you to inform, persuade or motivate your audience:
- Use simple, straightforward, everyday words like "try" instead of "endeavor." Studies show needlessly complex words lower the reader's evaluation of the writer, and divert attention from your message.
- Vary the lengths of your sentences, restricting the longest ones to 15 to 20 words. Lengthy sentences tend to be overloaded, run-on and boring.
- Limit your paragraphs to 7 to 9 lines. Remember, that's lines, not sentences (and shorten that to 3 to 4 lines in e-mail paragraphs). Information presented in short bursts is easier to digest.
These simple cues will keep your reader's attention while you convey your message.
Brought to you by Executive Speak/Write, oral and written communications trainers who enable you to Make your point. Get results. Contact us for more information on our effective training programs.
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