Go to SmartBrevity.com, upload something you wrote, and get an instant Smart Brevity score and some helpful feedback.

Strong words: Any one-syllable noun (fire, boat, cage, cliff, fish). Any one-syllable verb (chop, taunt, botch, crush).

mastering the art of the Axiom. Make It Strong Weak framing: Here’s what’s important to know. Strong Axiom: Why it matters Weak framing: A trend we’ve been observing Strong Axiom: The big picture Weak framing: Let’s take a look at the data Strong Axiom: By the numbers

Write with candor and authenticity. People aren’t suckers—they can sniff out a lawyered line or constipated corporate nonsense. Quit doing this ASAP.

The result is billions of wasted words: • Roughly one-third of work emails that require attention go unread. • Most words of most news stories are not seen. • Most chapters of most books go untouched.

Tips & Tricks

And say thank you. Always end everything on a gracious, grateful note.

• End where you began by restating your Big Idea. Then stop.

• People want to know something new, revelatory, exciting. And they want you to put it in context and explain “Why it matters.” Then, with a visual or verbal cue,