Writing in Plain Language
What you'll learn
- Define plain language and describe why you should want to write in plain language
- Describe your reader’s needs, taking into account state-specific literacy
- Organize your content in a way that makes it most likely to be read, understood, and acted on
- Write shorter sentences and paragraphs to serve your reader’s needs
- Choose your words wisely for both readability, consistency, and relevance to your audience
- Format your content appropriately to emphasize important points
- Use bulleted lists the right way
Requirements
- Access to a word processing software is recommended.
Description
Write emails and documents that are read, understood, and acted on
We are overwhelmed with information today—in both our personal and business lives. Sometimes it’s better to get straight to the point, in a way that doesn’t waste your reader’s time yet doesn’t compromise your professionalism either. This course teaches you how to use plain language to address your reader’s needs.
What do they really need to know?
What do you want them to do?
We’ll teach you how to think about your reader’s purpose and to write for them so they get the message and your writing does its job.
Who this course is for:
- Anyone who wants to better their written communication skills at work or home.
Course content
- Preview09:21
- Preview06:34
- 08:23Writing Shorter Sentences
- 06:59Using the Readability Tool
- 06:07Using Active Voice
- 04:38Choosing Your Words
Instructor
![Chip Reaves](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 20,618 Reviews
- 94,835 Students
- 98 Courses
Bigger Brains Founder and President Chip Reaves is a serial entrepreneur who has started five successful companies. An Atlanta native, Chip began fixing computers for small businesses in the 1980's while studying Computer Science at Georgia Tech. After 10 years building a successful IT Service Practice in Atlanta, Chip founded the Computer Troubleshooters franchise system alongside Wilson & Suzanne McOrist, which became the world's largest computer service franchise and received multiple awards from Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Business Review, and AllBusiness.
Chip has been interviewed on TV and other major media on topics related to small business technology and entrepreneurship, including ABC News, BusinessWeek TV, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, and is a member of Jim Blasingame's "Brain Trust" on SmallBusinessAdvocate. In 2010 Chip was listed among the Top 150 most influential people in small business IT by SMB PC magazine.
Chip lives with his wife Maren and step-daughter Meg in Anderson, South Carolina where they also co-own a Computer Troubleshooters franchise location. In his spare time Chip is very active with his church and local charities, and consults with two aid organizations serving Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.