| Pith
What is written without effort is read without pleasure.
— Samuel Johnson
Before you put pen to paper, ask yourself: 1) What do I want to
say, and to whom? 2) What words and phrases can I choose to say what I mean and connect
with my audience?
In the following example, the use of prefabricated phrases
prevents rather than promotes meaning for the intended audience, because the words meet
the needs of the people who run the program rather than the needs of the people the
program serves.
Look at the language in a welfare-to-work brochure touting
"The Positive Employment Program:
What
It Says |
What
It Means |
Assessment of job search activities/interviewing techniques
|
How to find and land a job |
Assistance with on-the-job problem resolution
|
How to solve on-the-job problems |
Effective interview techniques
|
How to impress an
employer |
Empowerment and motivation methods
|
How to believe in yourself |
Individual job search assistance and counseling
|
How to find the right job. |
Promotion/advancement counseling
|
How to get ahead
in your job |
Persuasive Pen welcomes your comments and examples. Contact editor@persuasivepen.com. |
