2. “The single biggest problem in communication is
the illusion that it has taken place.”
—George Bernard Shaw
3. ...or, I know what I’m trying to
say so you must be getting it!
4. Clarity
All the fancy flourishes we can do with
writing are diminished by lack of clarity
Anything that separates the reader from the
content is harmful to clarity. They don’t have
to know why they’re bored to be bored.
5. How we get confused
One thought does not lead to another
We don’t understand what certain pronouns
or antecedents refer to
Unclear chronology
Ambivalent meaning: the reader may not
hear it the way we intended
Esoteric references