1-Minute Takeaways
If you only have a minute, here are 2 takeaways to enhance your writing right now.
- Replace words with more than 2 syllables. Highlight each of these longer words and start rephrasing. This won't make your text 100% more readable, but it is a great start.
- Break up sentences. Highlight the ends of sentences and start cutting them in two, especially if you see a sentence go on for multiple lines Using shorter, choppier sentences is fine.
These tips are based on the SMOG reading grade level formula. If you want a. Follow the (SMOG guide I wrote for the Harvard School of Public health)[https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/health-communication/resources/smog/]. Or paste your text into a web app like the (SMOG calculator from Text Compare)[https://www.readabilit.com/readability/smog-index]. That said, you don't need to do any math to benefit from the SMOG. Combing through your text with these two tips might be enough. In practice, this can be a better use of time than trying to use the SMOG the "right" way.
Today's Glow Up: COVID-19 Data Visualization
Summary
This article used the SMOG formula to edit a public health text. It provided 2 tips to enhance your health communication:
- Replace words with more than 2 syllables. Use the SMOG if you need help setting a concrete goal.
- Chop up sentences. Use one sentence to share one idea.
It also emphasized the importance of addressing health equity in a "general audience" material. (Note: I published a version of this article on LinkedIn, on October 4, 2023.)