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Chapter 7 · Reporting Results · Slide 263/274

Principles of good writing

Write for the decision-makers; avoid jargon, put technical terms in the appendix.

Chapter 7 · Report WritingPrinciples

Principles of good writing


Reader-oriented

Write for the decision-makers; avoid jargon, put technical terms in the appendix.

Easy to follow

Logical structure, headings, short clear sentences; have outsiders proofread it.

Professional

Careful design; vary typography — but only as far as it supports understanding.

Objective

Present design, results and conclusions accurately, do not tailor them to the expectations of management.

Text ↔ Graphics

Reinforce key information with tables/figures — and bring figures to life with quotes.

Concise

Leave out everything unnecessary — but never at the expense of completeness.

Espresso cup"The readers of your reports are busy people — hardly anyone can balance report, coffee and dictionary all at once."
QUESTIONSTAR · Dr. Paul Marx263 / 274
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