John Sturtevant's Business Writing Seminars - Learn how to write what you mean.
Get the confidence and skills you need to communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively.
Clear idea #8: Read your writing out loud.
Simple ideas to help you write what you mean – clearly and persuasively.
8. Read your writing out loud.
Before you send your document, print it, get up from your desk, and walk down the hall reading it out loud.
A few things will happen.
First, you’ll get bored. Bored!
Man, if you’re bored by your own writing, just imagine how triple-bored your reader will be!
Second, you’ll get confused. That’s because your sentences contain too many ideas. How many ideas should each sentence contain? One! Just one.
Third, you’ll run out of breath while reading. That’s another signal that you’re sentences are too long (or you need to jump on the treadmill three times a week).
And finally, you’ll catch typos you’re…oops, your spell checker missed.
Strive to thrill yourself with what you write.
Learn to think clearly and write what you mean.
