#22 How can you write short and simple messages that are also precise?
This was the most fascinating question for me when I was 10. I'm almost 34 now, and I still admire this problem.
This visual is taken from by
Recently, I bumped into a visual that represents what I’m discussing in this short piece.
Especially in tech, we know that being able to write short and simple messages matters.
Given the complexity and rapid pace of the work—and the anxiety and burnout this might trigger—instructions and feedback should be concise to prevent confusion and reduce cognitive load.
This helps employees quickly understand what is expected of them. They might agree or disagree. But at least tech workers will then understand clearly what’s expected and can prioritize accordingly.
But there’s a catch. Short and simple-looking messages don’t always win. Most people can keep it short and ambiguous. You almost have to beg them to be direct and specific. Research shows that communication that’s not precise enough and too ambiguous can also lead to unnecessary stress.
Let’s use
’s example in the visual I leveraged in this post. Sam Altman’s Twitter post seems short and simple (“AI is the tech the world has always wanted”). But what does it mean anyway?Rosenzweig asks these questions:
What “AI” are we talking about? All AI, ChatGPT only, AI that’s unregulated? AI that hallucinates?
What’s the “world” we are talking about? Does it refer to the tech industry? Everyone? The United States?
What does “always” refer to? Since when?
What’s the evidence for your claim?
Can you point to counterarguments?
I admit that writing something that’s both short and simple while still offering precision is hard. It requires a balancing technique that isn’t obvious. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, my experience has shown me that being a journalist (see my earlier video on this topic) and addressing who, what, when, where, why, and how of your statements can go a long way.
You might say then that your messages won’t be short. That depends. Not every communication requires a detailed exploration of all the questions listed. Based on with whom you’re communicating and your writing goals, you can prioritize what questions matter more. You can also practice choosing the most specific words possible so that you can say more with less.
What are your ideas? What writing challenges fascinate you?
👋🏽 I’m Mel…
I’m here to empower tech professionals by:
🙇🏻♀️ Doing career coaching (DM me to book your free discovery call)
✍🏽 Writing on Medium and Substack
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