American written communication values clarity, brevity, and accessibility. State your main point early—often in the first sentence. Use straightforward language rather than elaborate vocabulary. Keep it as short as effectively possible.
Write so your intended reader can understand without struggling. This applies to emails, reports, documents, and most other written forms. Americans are impatient with lengthy preambles, excessive qualification, and writing that seems designed to impress rather than communicate.
The “bottom line up front” approach is widely expected: tell readers what they need to know and what action is required before providing supporting detail. Respect readers’ time by writing efficiently. Clear writing reflects clear thinking; unclear writing makes Americans suspicious that the thinking itself might be muddled.
Comments