Writing Voice & Style

Plainspoken, direct, and human. Angry in drafts, clear in print.

Voice

• Direct, honest, avoid management‑speak
• Constructively critical: point to what’s broken and why it matters
• Empathetic without melodrama; frustration comes from care
• Tie policy to people

Style

• Reading level: accessible, natural; short paragraphs and clear headings
• Flow:
  • Break arguments into chunks;
  • Use bullets when it helps
• Shareable lines: keep quotable sentences self‑contained
• Evidence with punch:
  • Numbers in plain terms
  • No 'double-decker buses' that over-simplify and obscure

Tone

• Professional but natural
  • Telling your Grandma what you do at work
• Avoid our own TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms), and expand on first and on occasional repeated uses
• Intent lives with the reader
  • Wry and dry humour or mild exaggeration can support a point, but don't rely on it being interpreted as intended
  • Perfect 'neutral' phrasing can be read as uncaring or even hostile.
• Distinguish analysis vs. commentary
  • Opinion can spoil a fair assessment

Golden rules

1. Clarity beats cleverness
2. Show the human impact
3. A clear argument is often better than a complete argument
4. People are good, systems are complicated
5. Critiques offer paths to better outcomes

Principles we work by

• Assume good intent
• Needs before wants
• Facts form a strong foundation
• Feelings do matter
• Systems before individual blame
• Be open to corrections

For technical commitments, see the AI Policy. For ongoing notes, see Lessons Learned.