- Describe one specific technique you used to improve readability in your revised version and explain why it is effective. (4 Marks)
One specific technique I used to improve readability in my revised version was cutting out unnecessary words. This technique involved me removing filler words that were making my phrases overly complex. By doing this I ensured that every word served a clear purpose and that I didn’t have redundant phrases that would confuse the reader. This involved taking phrases such as “If you’re a pet parent who values quality, uniqueness and your pets protection, then The Furever Tag is for you! Designed to invest into your pet’s well-being, we offer a project that combines functionality and style” to “If you value quality, safety and style, The Furever Tag is for you! Our tags keep your pet secure and add a touch of style.”
In class we learnt that one of the steps to take to write purposeful, clear, concise and copy that people will appreciate is to “cut down your word count. Remove words that to not add meaning” (Briscoe, W8 – B Plain Language Writing Tips (W25).pdf, Slide 5) and “only include critical information.” (Briscoe, W8 – B Plain Language Writing Tips (W25).pdf, Slide 5). This technique is all about taking out what doesn’t serve a purpose and making the writing more concise and direct so that the user can clearly understand what they are reading. This can ultimately make the content more effective and engaging for readers because they aren’t trying to pick apart what certain words mean or spend time reading sentences or words that don’t matter. This technique is effective because it enhances readability. Sentences that are lengthy and include words that could easily be removed are harder for people to read and follow. By using short sentences and common everyday words, readers can digest the message much easier. In class we learnt that “plain language does not mean writing to the lowest denominator, “dumbing it down” or avoiding all technical words”(Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 21) it just means respecting the time that the readers are actively spending reading the content you put out there for them. Cutting out unnecessary words keeps the meaning behind the message intact but improves clarity for the user. This way the content becomes more engaging and is likely to hold their attention longer.
Because people “do not always read carefully”, “they have a cognitive, language or learning disability” or “they read with different degrees of literacy” (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 36) we need to make information easy to absorb and that’s exactly what cutting unnecessary words out helps to do. This ensures that more people regardless of a learning disability or literacy level can understand and engage fully with the content that they are reading in an effective way. This strengthens the key message because without plain language important details can get lost in unnecessary filler words. Sentences that are to the point are more direct and impactful. One of the guidelines we learnt was to “keep the text as short as possible” (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 39) this way the information in the content is clearly visible.
Overall, by applying this technique, the revised version sounds professional and sharp. Cutting out unnecessary words removes any unnecessary explanations and makes the message behind my introductory post sound more persuasive. Its effective because its serving to what people actually want and what they need to be able to read, comprehend and take the next step. Our job is to “deliver important information quickly.” (Briscoe, W8 Writing Website Copy & Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 14) Cutting out what doesn’t matter ensures that the most important information is delivered efficiently and effectively which is why this technique works. This helps users quickly understand the value behind my brand, The Furever Tag.