Chapter 6
Honing the Tone
IN THIS CHAPTER
Keeping it short and simple
Accentuating the positive
Using contractions (or not)
Loving the active voice
Using diverse and inclusive terms
Being clear and consistent
Defining terms and acronyms
Knowing when to avoid jargon
Get human! Stop trying to speak in a monolithic, generic voice. It’s incredibly difficult to write that way, and it’s even more excruciating to have to read that kind of content. Why make things hard for yourself and your audience? Just write clearly, in human terms… No one believes a monolithic voice, so it undermines your credibility.
—AMY GAHRAN, MEDIA CONSULTANT
Learners aren’t tone deaf. They “hear” the subtleties of ...
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