Organization

• Tell the reader how the material is organized. For example, use a table of contents, clear headings and subheadings to guide the reader.
• Put the most important ideas near the beginning.
• Summarize important information.
• For lists, use bullets or numbers instead of burying them in the text.

Words and sentences

• Write in the active voice wherever possible. For example, avoid: "A conference is being planned by the CLC Education Committee". Instead write: "The CLC Education Committee is planning a conference".
• Avoid acronyms, jargon and difficult words. If you use acronyms, make sure to give the full name followed by the acronym in brackets the first time you use it. For example, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). If you have to use technical terms, make sure to explain them.
• Use verbs instead of nouns where possible. For example, say "The delegate registered for the conference". rather than "The delegate sent her registration for the conference".
• Avoid words that reinforce stereotypes or demean members.
• Eliminate extra words.