Write On!
By Kellie Underhill

Writing is a craft you can learn and a skill that can always be improved. It doesn't matter whether you write letters and reports for business purposes or if you write children's stories and personal essays for pure pleasure, it all comes down to the same thing - using words to convey your ideas to readers.

This issue of Bread 'n Molasses marks the beginning of a new series of articles on writing. Every month we'll share a new tip to help you write better whether for business or as a hobby.

Clutter kills. Make every word count.

Many people believe the more words they use in conversation and writing, the more important and intelligent they appear. One reason why they might think this is because people can't understand a word they've said or wrote. When people don't understand something, they often just smile or nod. We tend to accept silence as agreement with our thoughts and ideas.

When people do speak up and tell us they don't get it, we sometimes think they must be a little slow and not quite as bright as everyone else. In most cases, the thought that maybe we weren't clear in getting our message across doesn't immediately spring to mind.

This has nothing to do with more or less sophistication, but everything to do with cluttered sentences.

If you want your message to be understood, every word needs a purpose.

Look at this example:

"At this point in time, I would like to announce that I will no longer head up the committee, because it is my personal feeling that we are experiencing difficulties due to the fact that volunteer support is lacking with regard to commencing the numerous additions referred to as necessary in the recommended report." (54 words)

You've sat through speeches like this. You've read reports and letters with sentences this long. How long did it take before you zoned out and started thinking about something else? Don't fall into the clutter trap. Simplify your message so everyone can understand.

What does it really mean? Let's break it down.

At this point in time (Now. Today.)

I would like to announce (Just do it! Don't announce you would like to announce, make the announcement.)

I will no longer head up (How does one head up anything? I resign.)

It is my personal feeling (All your feelings are personal. I feel.)

We are experiencing difficulties (It's hard.)

Due to the fact that (Because.)

With regard to (About. Concerning.)

Commencing the numerous (Begin many.)

Referred to as necessary. (Either it's necessary or it's not.)

There are many ways to re-write this sentence without the clutter.

"I'm resigning from the committee today because we don't have enough volunteers to begin the changes." (16 words)

Not bad, but it can be simplified even further:

"I resign today because I can't make the changes alone." (10 words)

And further:

"I resign." (2 words)

Stripped to the bare fact, everybody understands.

The question of clutter comes down to this:

Do you want to feel important or do you want to be understood?

Kellie Underhill is the editor of Bread 'n Molasses. Her writing credits include The Moncton Times-Transcript, The Brunswick Business Journal, The Atlantic Chamber Journal and The Reader magazine. Send comments about this article to editor@breadnmolasses.com.