The 5 Minute Writer

part in the study was quoted as saying "I'll be darned if I'll write like an enlisted man!" (OK, he didn't really say "darned" -- but this is a family column!) For him, sounding important was the goal, not communicating clearly. For most of us, at least in our workplace writing, communicating our message is our primary concern. In fact, the Securities and Exchange Commission has decided that clear communication is so important, it is requiring publicly held companies to follow the principles of clear writing in all the documents submitted to the SEC, especially those intended for investors. At the SEC Webster, you can look at the Plain English Handbook, which offers guidelines for creating SEC disclosure documents. (http://www.sec.gov/consumer/plaine.htm)

If the SEC thinks that these principles for clear writing are effective enough to require them in documents for investors, don't your co-workers, employees, and clients deserve the same consideration?

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