How to Communicate More Clearly: The Science and Practice of Clarity
The cognitive science of clarity, from the curse of knowledge to the Pyramid Principle: what research shows about why communication fails and how to make yours work.
March 2026
October 2025
Clear Writing Principles
Clear writing: one idea per sentence avoiding compound complexity, active voice with subject doing action, concrete nouns over abstractions, short sentences.
Editing for Precision
Editing for precision eliminates ambiguity: Remove weasel words (seems, might, perhaps), specify quantities (many → 73%), clarify pronouns (it, this, that).
Writing for Clarity
Writing for clarity: Short sentences with one idea each, familiar simple words, active voice where subject acts, concrete examples illustrating abstractions.
Structure in Writing Explained
Writing structure guides readers: Top-down starts with conclusion, bottom-up builds to conclusion, chronological follows time order, problem-solution format.
Knowledge Writing Explained
Knowledge writing captures expertise: explicit knowledge with documented steps and procedures, plus tacit knowledge including context and judgment calls.
Writing Mistakes Explained
Common writing mistakes: burying the lead with main point last, passive voice obscuring actor, jargon overload, and vague pronouns like it or this.
Writing for Decision Makers
Writing for decision-makers: lead with recommendation, provide supporting evidence, quantify impact, address risks, specify next steps and timeline.
August 2025
Writing Projects That Build Authority
Authority-building writing: in-depth tutorials solving problems to become go-to resource, research synthesis reading everything on topics.
July 2025
Communication Clarity Checklist
Put main point upfront—don't bury the lead. Use concrete examples. Define jargon. Check audience understanding through questions.
October 2024
How to Communicate Clearly: Principles That Work in Any Context
Clear communication starts with understanding your audience, structuring your message simply, and prioritizing what the listener needs to know over what you want to say.
April 2023
How to Write Clearly: The Science and Practice of Clear Writing
Clear writing principles backed by research: Flesch reading ease, plain language, the Pyramid Principle, George Orwell's 6 rules, and the specific habits that make writing clearer.
March 2023
What Is Effective Communication: The Science Behind Being Understood
What effective communication really means: the Shannon-Weaver model, the 7Cs, active listening research, non-verbal signals, and how communication failures harm organizations.
July 2022
What Is the Cobra Principle in Communication: Less Is More
Adding more words, qualifications, and caveats often weakens communication. Learn why clarity and brevity outperform volume and how to write and speak more effectively.