Practical guidance.
WHAT MATTERS MOST
Being understood.
WHAT MATTERS LESS THAN PEOPLE FEAR
Perfect grammar.
WHY
Readers forgive small errors and do not forgive unclear meaning.
WHAT HELPS MOST
Short sentences Common words One idea per sentence Explicit structure
WHAT TO AVOID
Long sentences attempting formality Words you are unsure of Idioms Translating directly from another language's structure
WHY LONG SENTENCES SPECIFICALLY
They are where errors accumulate and meaning is lost.
WHAT TO DO IF UNSURE OF A WORD
Use a simpler one you are certain of.
WHAT TO REREAD FOR
Whether each sentence says one thing clearly.
WHAT TOOLS HELP
Grammar checkers, for mechanical errors Reading aloud, for awkwardness
WHAT TO BE CAUTIOUS OF WITH TOOLS
Suggestions that change your meaning.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Have a fluent colleague read them.
WHAT TO ASK THEM
Whether the meaning is clear, not whether the grammar is perfect.
WHAT TO PRACTISE
Writing regularly.
WHY
It improves faster than study alone.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
That clear writing in a second language beats elaborate writing in a first.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Apologise for your English.
WHY
It draws attention to something readers had not noticed.
