Writing Tips I Learned from Smart Brevity

Seven rules to make your writing better

Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash

Smart Brevity is a book about how to make your communications smart and brief. Or rather, smarter and more brief.

You might think it’s okay to write the way you do. Long sentences. Big words. Business jargon. But let me ask you something: how much time are people spending reading what you have written?

Now multiply the time if your writing is confusing. Or if it doesn’t get to the point right away. Or if people don’t even read what you wrote in the first place.

Smart Brevity has an interesting premise, one I have always believed myself: make it easy on the reader.

Here are the rules (and if you want to dive deeper, read on):

• Short sentences are better than long sentences
• Short words are better than long words
• Use images when you can
• BLUF — Bottom Line Up Front
• Use bullets (style for your reader)
• Dive deep section
• Write how you talk

Short sentences are better than long sentences