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Ten Steps to a More Inclusive Copy Using Plain Language
As speaking professionals, we are uniquely positioned — and wired — to understand, deep within our core, that words have power. The words we use can enable or disable our audience, can sway an entire audience in one direction or another, and even, why not, change the world. As long as the message we convey is clear and unambiguous. If not, an otherwise very powerful message can quickly fall incredibly flat.
Consider the following two sentences a speaker might say at the end of a presentation. which one feels easier to understand for you?
Option 01
“Thank you for attending this live, in-person event. Should there be any additional elements on which you require further explanation or details, I will gladly provide such information to you as may be required through email.”
Option 02
“Thanks for attending my session. If you have any questions, drop me an email.”
Arguably, they both say the exact same thing, but I’ll bet you whatever you want that the second sentence feels a hell of a lot simpler to you. It makes perfect sense. We get it. And yet, oftentimes, because we care about sounding smart, educated, thoughtful, and well-spoken, we will use words and sentences that are a little too complex for our own good. And when we do…
