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Tip -- Use Specific Rather Than Abstract Words

 
 
If your goal is to have your organization’s employee manuals and training guides read and used, keep this tip in mind when writing policies and procedures. Don’t be vague!

Abstract terms are harder to understand and frequently boring and lifeless. When you use vague generalized words, you’ll either bore or frustrate your reader. Vow to use specific and accurate nouns to make an immediate impression and draw a picture in the reader’s mind.
 
Here are a few examples:
 
Instead of …
 
Try …
 
Book
 
CSR Training Guide, War & Peace, your Zavanta User’s Guide
 
Output device
 
HP laser printer, Linotronic imagesetter, Epson dot-matrix printer
 
Vehicle
 
Truck, Half-ton flatbed trailer, white Jaguar XL
 

For more tips, check out our other Writing Tips Posts and our webinar series.