The SIS is asked to approve this revised paper on the XYZ implementation plan for ABC. The context paper is closely aligned with the ABC Plan and the XYZ initiatives in the XYZ Plan.
While I’ve changed the acronyms to anonymise the source, I recently had to try to make sense of the above paragraph. Even though I knew what the acronyms stood for, it wasn’t easy.
We shorten words to save ourselves time as we write.
But acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms are a hurdle to leap and get in the way of our readers. Every time we use them, we place an additional cognitive load on our audience.
Because even when people know what your acronyms mean – and many won’t – reading them slows you down.
Some abbreviations are so commonly used that spelling out the word or phrase would make it harder to understand. For these, it makes sense to use the shorter form. Examples are COVID, RSVP, laser, or TV. Otherwise, keep your writing an abbreviation-free zone.
Where there is any doubt, spell it out.
#GetItWrite #Communications #Writing #Training