GUIDELINES TO NRDC feb 24 2014

The Need for Complete, Concise, and Clear WritingIntroduction Since writing lacks the advantage of immediate feedback to clarify meaning, itmust be complete, concise, and clear from the beginning. Here's what happens ifit's not:The reader will waste time The writer will also waste timex Rereading.x Taking calls from confused readers.xxxGuessing.Grabbing a dictionary.Picking up a phone.xxWriting a clarification message.Explaining to an irate boss why thepaper must be re-written.SpeakingversuswritingWhen towriteQuality?Staffofficers arewritersIf feasible, communicate in person before writing:x Can see or sense emotions attached to spoken words.x Able to read body language, which gives larger meaning to the words.x Can usually ask questions if unable to understand what's said.Write when--x Conversation isn't feasible.x The subject requires analysis.x You need a permanent record.Some bureaucratic writing is good but much is not. Typically, it's pretentious,wordy, awkward, passive, and confusing.In spite of efforts to eradicate it, poor writing still survives:x It's embedded in the bureaucracy.x People think government writing should look official.x The undereducated or insecure think they can impress by writing this way.x Writers either don't know how or are afraid to change.x Leaders who should know better tolerate poor writing.Staff officers are the Army's scribes. They must write well; they write--x Papers to be signed by senior leaders.x Documents many people read--perhaps Army-wide.x Policies and regulations with large impact.One who writes with a golden pen has an edge. An otherwise talented personwho doesn't write well works at a disadvantage. This gifted writer says it best:Bad writing makes bright people look dumb.--William ZinsserNRDC GRC – Staff Handbook 7-2