I’ve recently come to the conclusion that bad writing is like a virus: everyone becomes a victim sooner or later. From verbose language to dangling modifiers, not to mention passive voice clutter that not only the pages of unfinished books, but also quarterly and year-end reports, business plans, and presentations. Effectively written communication gets the message across…essential for any leader to succeed. Whether you are pitching for new business or looking for venture capital, you need to get to the point. Good writing uses fewer words, not more. This is something that I still wrestle with today!

In her business writing blog, Lynn Gaertner-Johnston (whose mission is “to quash bad writing habits that linger in the classrooms and cubicles of the 21st-century)” says the number one goal is to keep it simple. In today’s hyberbolic world, you lose your audience’s attention quickly. This is especially pertinent in markets where competition is fierce. Worse, you send a subconscious message of uncertainty in your verbose sentences. Don’t use jargon of phrases your reader won’t understand. That technique often looks like you are trying to hide something.

“I believe more in the scissors than the pencil.” – Truman Capote

The next important stage in editing: Don’t settle just for grammatical corrections and perfect punctuation. Take the time to add value by reworking your message. Don’t be afraid to redraft any weak points. This will help other understand your vision and help you stand out against the competition.

How do you go about proofreading and editing your writings?