Communication Patterns

Chapter 7. Written Communication

As a professional, you understand the importance of clear and effective written communication. Whether you’re sending emails to colleagues, documenting requirements, or creating reports, written communication is a critical aspect of your job.

This chapter explores various tips and techniques to help you write clear, concise, and impactful communications. You’ll look at patterns that will help you improve your writing and antipatterns that will help you avoid common pitfalls. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this chapter provides practical guidance to help you take your writing skills to the next level.

Simple Language

To make your language clear, you need to take many factors into account. The simple language pattern can help you. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking everyone understands all the words you say or write. Trying to sound clever by using complex vocabulary usually leads to confusion. Rather than people thinking more of you, they are likely to think less of you because they have not understood.

For those who struggle with visual processing, such as people with dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), complex words and sentences may be an even larger hindrance than for a neurotypical person. Large amounts of text, grouped together, can also cause problems, especially if little whitespace remains. Those with autism often struggle to understand sarcasm and idioms,¹ so these are best kept ...