If You Wouldn’t Say It, Don’t Write It

It’s easy to get carried away.

You’re in the flow.
Words pouring out.
Fast. Unstoppable.

That’s when the trouble starts. You forget the reader. You write to impress, not to express.

Like this email I saw:

“In light of our ongoing commitment to optimising our operational frameworks and enhancing our overall productivity metrics, we are embarking on a comprehensive strategic initiative aimed at streamlining our processes.”

What?

That’s not communication. That’s a puzzle.

Here’s a clearer version:
“We’re starting a project to make our work more efficient.”

Same message.
Less effort to read.

I showed the first email to my granddaughter.
She's 9.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
She shrugged.
"No idea. Sounds like robot talk."

Exactly.

A 9-year-old gets what many professionals don't: Big words don't make big ideas. They make barriers.

Like those security guards at fancy restaurants. The ones in black suits. Looking important. Keeping people out.

That's what complicated language does. It stands at the door of understanding. Arms crossed.
"You're not getting in."

But here's the thing: The best restaurants don't need guards. The food speaks for itself.

Same with writing.
If your idea is good, it doesn't need protecting. It needs sharing.

Think about the Wright brothers.
When they told people they could fly, they didn't say:
"We have conceptualised and implemented an innovative aerial transportation solution."

They said:
"We built a flying machine."

And guess what? Everyone understood. Everyone remembered. Everyone shared the story.

That's how ideas spread.
Not by impressing.
But by expressing.

So next time you write, ask yourself:

Would a 9-year-old get it? If not, you're not writing. You're hiding.

Keep it simple. Let your ideas fly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Because writing isn’t about showing off. It’s about being understood.

If you wouldn’t say it, don’t write it.
Keep it simple. Keep it clear.