What all have ideas about what it means to lead a team, or revise a text, or have ppl over for dinner, or write in plain language.

We all have an unconscious definition of ‘this is how to do that thing.’ We may not think about it, but it impacts our thoughts, decisions and actions.

That’s the topic of my new blogpost about ‘task representation,’ one of my fave concepts ever!

Have a look!

https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2024/03/20/a-good-concept-to-know-task-representation/

#ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage #editing #translation

To make a text easy to understand, easy to navigate, easy to use, we need
- a clear, visible structure
- clear connections between ideas

The post below explores these ideas from a translation angle, and it also applies to writing and editing.

Have a look and tell me what you think!

Visible structure and connected ideas
https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2024/02/24/visible-structure-and-connected-ideas/

#ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage #translation #traduction

Have you ever looked at a recurring theme or passion in your life, to see the different shapes it’s taken over the years?

I did it, for example, when a potential client asked me for a CV focused on my training and clear communication experience. Quite an interesting exercise!

From 2015-2016: A CV about training and clear communication

https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/a-cv-about-training-and-clear-communication/

#ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage

Commas (alongside hyphens) are the bane of my editorial existence. They're hard to get right--maybe because they have a dual role: to hint at the rhythms of speech and at the divisions of phrases in a sentence.

(I'm struggling to explain this...but read Steven Pinker's "A Sense of Style," around pp.120-121!)

But getting the comma wrong can also be incredibly costly.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-mike-pences-struggle-with-the-humble-comma-should-give-us-pause/
#WordsMatter #ClearWriting #AmEditing

I was quite active in the international plain-language community for many years, up to 2015.

This latest blogpost is about expected and unexpected outcomes of my involvement in the community. It touches not only on clear communication, but also on building my English-writing skills and on knowledge-sharing… with a bit of content design and legal design thrown in!

My PLAIN years 2002-2015
https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/my-plain-years-2002-2015/

#ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage #KnowledgeSharing

Since January, I’ve been looking back at a few decades of working and learning. It’s fascinating to see what left a lasting impression, what influenced what, how things connect and intermingle!

Latest post:
Turning point: intro to usability

https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2023/11/22/turning-point-intro-to-usability/

For a list of all posts, about clear communication and other topics:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KOU3QjZ52p3bBCOsemFkuqkEpThh8k1c_eXYCogg7Y8/edit

Comments are welcome!

#blogging #WordPress
#usability #ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage

Glad this post is finally published!
For clearer, user-focused translations
https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2023/11/12/for-clearer-user-focused-translations/

It suggests different ways to tweak or transform the usual ‘write-translate-publish’ process.

It really distills a few decades of learning and work, putting together bits from 20 yrs, 10 yrs, 1 yr ago, some from personal experience, others from inspiring efforts in the European Union, Wales, and Canada. Lots of thinking, (re)organizing, (re)writing!

#ClearWriting #PlainLanguage #translation

A simple but very useful tip when you’re improving a text, translating, etc.:

⁃Figure out what the key message is.
⁃Make sure it’s clear and visible.

More info and stories in this new blogpost:

https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/is-the-key-message-clear-and-visible/

#ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage

To act, people often need to be aware, willing and able… and pushed a bit.

That applies whether you’re trying to change the writing culture, to get better at meal-planning and home-cooking, or to improve a work process with your team.

You’ll find more about these ‘conditions for action’ and the ways they can act as levers or obstacles in my latest blogpost:

Conditions for action
https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2023/10/24/conditions-for-action/

Let me know what you think!

#change #ClearCommunication #ClearWriting #PlainLanguage

There’s a widespread belief that #ClearCommunication (aka #ClearWriting, #PlainLanguage) is only…
- for external communications
- about avoiding jargon and long sentences/words
- useful to non-experts.

Let’s get rid of these false beliefs! It will make plain language more effective and more relevant… and really improve the information that people need, inside and outside our organizations.

More in my recent blogpost:
3 ‘onlys’ that are hurting plain language

https://101fragments.wordpress.com/2023/10/12/3-onlys-that-are-hurting-plain-language/