‘Be brave’: Ways to be a more inclusive writer

The more we include our audience — all of our audience — the more clearly our messages will be understood. That means carefully considering how we speak to people of different ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, levels of disability, education, gender identity and the other factors that make each person unique.

During Ragan’s recent Advanced Writing Certificate Course, Vanessa Charles, U.S. communications director for Takeda, recently shared advice on how to ensure your communications speak to everyone.

A-C-E

Charles uses the acronym ACE to emphasize the three qualities an inclusive writer must exhibit:

She quoted Brene Brown: “In order to empathize with someone’s experience, you must be willing to believe them as they see it and not how you imagine their experience to be.”

Choose your words carefully

To be inclusive, you must first be understood. This can be as simple as making sure your language is accessible.