Lead with the reader’s main task

The idea

Clear communication starts with what the audience needs to understand or do. A main message gives the reader a destination before supporting detail arrives. The writer should decide what successful use looks like, then organize information around that purpose.

Worked example

A fictional library notice begins with the history of its shelving project and ends with a closure date. Readers miss the practical consequence. An editor rewrites the opening: “The reading room will close on Tuesday; use the ground-floor desk for returns.” Background follows for those who need it. The editor tests the notice by asking a reader where to return a book, rather than asking whether the prose sounds professional.

Use it carefully

A concise main message must still be accurate. Do not remove conditions that materially change the action or imply certainty the evidence does not support. Different audiences may need different explanations or delivery channels. Communication guidelines support judgment but do not replace testing with actual readers. A readability score cannot tell you whether people understood the task or had the resources to perform it.

RETRIEVE. REASON. REMEMBER.

Knowledge check.

Choose one answer for each question, then check your reasoning.