The 7 “C”s Of Powerful Writing

Clear, concise, concrete, correct, consistent, complete, courteous: find out why these characteristics are so important and how to apply them when writing for the web. Follow the principles below to write sentences that are clear, to the point, and easier to read.

1. Clear: Your messages need to be clear if they are to be effective.
2. Concise: If you want your messages to be read by busy people, make them brief. Say what you need to say, and say no more (while maintaining goodwill, of course). Remove all words phrases and sentences that serve no purpose. You can also eliminate wordiness by substituting one word for wordy, overused expressions.
3. Concrete: You have a choice in your writing to use concrete (specific) or abstract (vague) words. They both have a place in business writing. However, concrete terms are typically more accurate and, in some cases, more believable.
4. Correct: Correctness in writing for the web includes spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format. For spelling, punctuation, and grammar, you should keep a dictionary and a writer’s guide at your desk.
5. Coherent: Messages need to “hang together.” Ideas need to flow from one to the next through smooth transitions. You can achieve this by outlining your messages, writing simple sentences and focusing each paragraph on one idea. You can also improve the coherence of your message through connecting words and phrases, parallel structure, and guide posts.
• Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
6. Complete: Check to be sure that your message is complete. Have you included all the information you need to ensure that the other person can do a complete job or make a reasonable decision?
7. Courteous: Your message should be positive—building goodwill and focused upon the reader. Be careful of using gender specific language and always use proper titles.

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