How Can Writers Improve Their Readability?
This week, I approached the endeavor of how to improve readability in writing. Throughout my research, I found may aspects that contribute to great readability. I also learned that this is extremely important to keep in mind when writing, as the average reader merely skims most content. As a creative it is vital to keep an audience engaged. So, how does one improve the readability of their writing?
First, it is important to pay attention to technical details in the structure of your writing. Good writing structure can help the reader navigate the content, prepare the reader for what they will read, and also help you as the writer in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Every writer or designer will go about the structure of their writing or design differently. However, there are certain factors in structure that can help drastically improve the readability of your piece. These include highlighting key words, using meaningful subheadings, dedicating one idea to each paragraph, using sans-serif font, and shortening the width of columns. All of these will help break up the content of your piece thus keeping the reader engaged.
Another important aspect that can help improve the readability of your content is to decrease the amount of word clutter. The average reader will continue to read your content because they connect with you as the author. This is why it is important to write with humanity and warmth rather than with fancy words and clutter. While it is nice to sound professional, inflating the amount of words we use to sound important, is not the best route. Simplifying is key. It is you as the writer’s job to keep the reader engaged. When a writer makes the reader work too hard to understand them, the reader will not connect with you and often give up on your piece. You as the writer should be clear and concise so that someone who has never encountered the subject you are writing about will immediately understand it.
There are many ways in which one can improve upon the readability of their writing. It can be extremely difficult to convey your ideas in a way so everyone can understand them. However, by applying structural details, and decluttering your work your readability will start to improve instantly.
Hi! My name is Kristin Ardese and I am a professional Graphic Designer and Marketing Strategist. I hope that by sharing some of my expertise, I can help offer valuable insights and build an engaging community.
