Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Adapting Your
Words to Your
Readers
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• Tailoring your message to your readers is not
only strategically necessary; it is also a sign of
consideration for their time and energy.
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• Adapting To Multiple Readers:
• What if your readers vary widely in terms of
their education, knowledge of the subject, and
reasons for reading?
• How can you write your message in such a way
that you communicate to everyone?
• The solution is to write in such a way that your
different readers can find and understand the
parts of your message that are of value to them
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• Define any specialized vocabulary you use.
• Your choice of words needs to be guided by
your audience and purpose. It must fulfill
everyone's purpose of reading.
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• Wrong example without adaptation:
The corporation’s investments and advances in three
unconsolidated subsidiaries and in 50% owned
companies was $420 ml on December 31, 2012, and the
excess of the investments in certain companies over net
asset value at dates of acquisition was $176 ml. The
corporation’s equity in the net assets as of December 31,
2012, was $481 ml and in the results of operations for
the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012.
•
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• Correct example with adaptation:
Last year your company’s total sales were $117
million, which was slightly higher than the $109
million total for the year before. After deducting
for all expenses, we has $$400 thousand left over
for profits, compared with $700 thousand for
2011. Because of these increased profits, we were
able to increase your annual dividend payments
per share from the 50 cents paid over the last 10
years
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Adapt Your Wording to Your Readers
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Prefer Short, Familiar Words
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Choose the Precise Word
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Prefer the Concrete to the Abstract
Abstract Concrete
We have found that this technique is Our research shows that 87 percent of
successful. those using this technique are successful.
Your department may hire some Your department may hire three new stock
new employees. clerks.
We will ship your order soon. We will ship the Moss No. 41 desk sets you
ordered October 12 by Arrow Freight on
October 15.
Each of the branch managers will Each of the branch managers will receive a
receive a substantial pay raise. 15 percent pay raise.
This procedure requires a constant low This process requires a constant
temperature. temperature of 10 degrees centigrade.
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Prefer the Active to the Passive
Passive Active
It is believed that the bill was I believe they padded the bill.
padded.
Your report was read by the The president read your report.
president.
The profit and loss statement is The treasurer prepares the profit and
prepared by the treasurer each loss statement each month.
month.
It is suggested that you clean the We suggest that you clean the
element in warm, soapy water. element in warm, soapy water.
It is desired that every effort be Mr. Wong wants you to bring this
made to have this matter brought to matter to the attention of the
the attention of the manager. manager.
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Avoid Overuse of Camouflaged Verbs
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Avoid Discriminatory Wording
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Eliminate Offending Words
Sexist Nonsexist
We will reimburse any We will reimburse any employee
employee who paid his travel for travel expenses.
expenses. A customer who pays promptly is
If a customer pays promptly, he placed on our preferred list.
is placed on our preferred list. A physician should treat patients
A physician should treat his with respect.
patients with respect.
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Make the Reference Plural
Sexist Nonsexist
If a customer pays promptly, he is If customers pay promptly, they are
placed on our preferred list. placed on our preferred list.
When an unauthorized employee When unauthorized employees
enters the security area, he is enter the security area, they are
subject to dismissal. subject to dismissal.
A supervisor is not responsible for Supervisors are not responsible for
such losses if he is not negligent. such losses if they are not negligent.
When a customer needs service, it When customers need service, they
is her right to ask for it. have the right to ask for it.
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Avoid Stereotyping Language
• Race • Age
– a hard-working –golden ager
Mexican –youngster
– an honest Sicilian
• Disability
• Sexual Orientation –deaf and dumb
– A lesbian athlete –crippled
– A gay artist
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