> Put the real subject matter — the

GB

19 Mar 2024

> Put the real subject matter — the point — and even the conclusion, in the opening paragraph and the whole story on one page. Period! This instruction was written 80 years ago this week. The [whole memo](https://archive.org/details/Maverick1944MemoAboutGobbledygook) has only 129 words. If you are in a position of some authority why not write a similar instruction to your staff. The return on the investment of a few minutes of your time in terms of time and money saved will be enormous. ![](https://www.garybandy.co.uk/uploads/2024/1944-memo-about-gobbledygook.png) _Note: This post was inspired by a post on the Daring Fireball blog about [this memo](https://archive.org/details/Maverick1944MemoAboutGobbledygook) from the Smaller War Plants Corporation (whatever that was)._

Do your numbers help your readers or confuse them?

If you’re an auditor or accountant, numbers are everywhere in your writing. But it’s not just about choosing between “5” or “five.” Being clear, consistent, and smart about how you use numbers can make a big difference in how your message lands. If your numbers aren’t clear,

Quick win: One sentence that saves everyone time

Get the first page right

The way people read has changed and so should the way we write. When newspapers first went online, journalists wrote articles in the same way they always had. This meant articles were often split across several webpages with a button at the bottom of each page to go to the

> Put the real subject matter — the

GB

Read more

Do your numbers help your readers or confuse them?

Quick win: One sentence that saves everyone time

Get the first page right

A new name — same focus on writing that works