Readability Guidelines
Imagine a collaboratively developed, universal content style guide, based on usability evidence.
The Elements of Bureaucratic Style
I’m currently reading The Sense of Style by Steven Pinker, and it resonates nicely with this article on the numbing effect of the bureaucratic style exemplified in phrases like “officer-involved shooting.”
Watching the cell phone videos of the assault has, for most people, the immediate effect of provoking outrage and awakening a desire for justice. The purpose of bureaucratic speech is to dull these responses. It suggests your outrage is not worth it, that it’s fine to go back to what you were doing, that it’s best to move along and mind your own business.
Related links
wrong side of write
An opinionated blog about writing. I’ve subscribed in my feed reader.
The Elements of Fucking Style
Use strong, definite language in your writing. Make that sentence your bitch.
Research Tools | Economist.com | Economist.com
The Economist style guide: the "dos and don'ts" section is particularly useful.