One of the biggest struggles for many writers is determining which is most important to focus on during the writing process: content or style. The answer is both. If you think about it, the content is only as strong as the style that you use to convey your message to the reader.

The key to being a successful writer is to determine and maintain a clear and understandable style while also incorporating important content. Doing this can be extremely difficult; however, there are a few questions that you can ask yourself throughout the writing process to help.

Am I using terms that my reader understands? 

Naturally, while writing, you use terms and abbreviations that you and those in your field understand. This can be an issue because writing is reader-based, and content can get lost when the writer uses jargon that others may not understand.

Am I maintaining a clear tone? 

In addition to using appropriate terminology, writers should maintain a consistent tone throughout their writing. Sometimes the actual content isn’t as important as how it’s conveyed. Thus, using a consistent tone will help the reader understand the content and may decrease possible confusion.

Will my reader fully understand the purpose of the writing?

After you’ve completed the document, read back through the content from the perspective of your reader. Doing this can help to ensure that others will understand the purpose of your writing. 

Following correct writing procedures and asking yourself these questions can help you throughout the process and improve your overall writing skills. Remember that our writing should be reader-centered, not writer-centered, meaning that without a clear style, the content may be useless. Please visit our Business Writing course to learn more about how style and content should be structured in business writing.