6. Final Touches

In this section, we will go through some additional elements to consider when writing inclusively.

The Use of Visuals

Graphs and other visual content help keep the reader interested, and can be particularly effective for presenting data to the reader. Visual content can also give a non-native English speaker an overview in a way that a dense text paragraph cannot.

Sub-Headings

Sub-headings can be useful for organizing writing and helping to guide your reader through complex ideas and longer texts.

Proofreading

Even if you are just writing a quick email to your team, it’s worthwhile to take the time to read it over once or twice to make sure that:

  • your sentences are logical and flow together
  • auto correct hasn’t changed any of the words you want to use (especially if you are sending an email from a mobile device)
  • you have avoided using unclear terms, acronyms, or jargon

Further revision is even more important if you are writing a longer document or article.

Reading Aloud

This has been mentioned before, but whenever something isn’t quite working, take a moment and read the sentence or passage out loud. This is a really simple and valuable strategy.

Getting Someone Else to Read it 

This has also been mentioned before, but it’s great to get someone you trust to read what you have written and provide feedback. You can also encourage IEHPs and other staff to ask their colleagues to read through what they have written and provide feedback. This can help enhance their skills and decrease their anxiety as they continue to refine their English communication skills.

In the following video, Lisa Salem-Wiseman discusses some of the “final touches” when it comes to inclusive writing.

(To read along click here.)

These last two learning exercises provide an opportunity to review some practical examples of writing that you might come across in your workplace.

Workplace Scenario: Agenda

The following email was sent to you by a colleague. You have agreed to put together an agenda for the next department meeting, and you need to pull the agenda items out of his email.

Once you have written the agenda click on ‘Hint’ to see a suggested agenda.

Workplace Scenario: Glossary

Read the following statements and identify items that might be a challenge for someone who is a newcomer. The goal is to recognize areas that might cause confusion or miscommunication. Tip: To prevent miscommunication, items like this could be defined in a glossary for new staff members.


Connect to Save Progress

You are not currently logged in. Create an account to keep track of your progress.

If you already have an account, please .