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Essential tips for making your writing readable
Focus on your audienceBase your writing style on your audience. | Speak to your audience personally, if appropriate, using a conversational tone. |
Make your writing visually appealingChoose an easy-to-read font and colors. | Use blank space liberally – specifically, avoid the “wall of text”. | Highlight important information with bolding, or indentation. |
Make the structure obviousUse informative headings to provide organization and to add visual appeal. | Use sub-headings to transition between ideas and to break up long passages. |
Write short paragraphsEach paragraph should focus on a single idea or concept. | Introduce the main idea of the paragraph in its first sentence. | Each paragraph should include 3-5 sentences. | Single-sentence paragraphs can be very effective. | Use transition words between sentences, such as “first”, “therefore”. |
Use short sentencesStandard sentence length is 17 words; 11 words or less is considered easy to read. | Sentences should be no longer than 20 words. | Mix long and short sentences for better flow and variety. | Look for opportunities to break up compound sentences and to eliminate superfluous or redundant ideas. | Remove unnecessary adjectives or adverbs. | Introduce no more than one idea in a sentence. |
Use easy wordsUse words with no more than 4 syllables. | Avoid jargon whenever possible. | Use synonyms for variety. |
Use active voicePassive voice tends to be longer and more difficult to follow; active voice is concise. |
Test before you publishMake sure your writing is as readable as you intended. |
Check the Readability of Your Writing
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