Think-write Pty Ltd Information

Think-write Consulting - plain language zealots. We train people to write in plain language (plain English). Our course, Writing well at work, helps people in government and business write effective functional documents - for both internal and external audiences. The course focuses mainly on the thinking required to craft documents that make information easy to find, understand and use. It also covers writing techniques. I've been delivering this course, mainly to government agencies, for over 2 decades. Many participants report finding the content very useful. Our plain language principles: 1. Clear writing can only come from clear thinking Thinking well and writing well are closely related. Writing is a creative, organising, defining activity that makes thinking clear and precise. 2. A writer’s job is to serve their readers The reader is at the centre of a writer’s activities. Writers must work hard to make it easy for readers to find the information they need, understand what is written, and use the information. 3. Businesses and governments produce ‘functional documents’ Functional documents are written to achieve an organisation’s purpose. They are communication assets that must be crafted to perform – just like any other asset. 4. Functional documents (information products) must be written plainly Difficult to read and unclear documents cannot be acted on properly. Not writing plainly can cause social disadvantage. It can also put the document owner at risk. 5. Information products should be tested Like any product, information products should be tested to make sure they work well. Plain language writing focuses on readers and how they respond to a document (a document is anything that uses words – printed or web text). The aim is to make documents clear, concise and effective (by effective, we mean ‘achieves purpose’). We consider how the reader will encounter the document and how the document owner would like them to respond.