38. Don't overthink it Newsletter

Do we need to talk about why the Clear Language Club newsletter posting schedule is so intermittent? Probably not. Mostly busyness and overthinking.

Actually, overthinking is something I've been, somewhat ironically, thinking about in my content work this week. I spent more than an hour trying to explain why there were no search results in a specific scenario. In the end, I went for, 'No results found'.

Don't overthink it. Not bad advice.

Enjoy the links below. Don't forget the blog.

Iain

Long Story Short – daily word game
This is neat. Long Story Short is a daily online game (think Wordle) where you select 5 words from a sentence that still conveys the same message or tells the same story. It's like being at work, but for fun.

How to do a content audit without tools:
Ellen Harvey says all you need is a spreadsheet, 50 pages, and one question. And to be honest, I agree with her.

Headers, headings, and titles
This is a good explanation from Martin Underhill of what headers, headings and titles are. He explains the differences and how using the right terms can help you and your team better understand what the heck you're all on about. Choice quotes and commentary from me on the blog.

Writing NHS messages
Take a look at these new guidelines on writing NHS messages, which are useful for anyone who writes healthcare content. It covers emails, text messages and paper letters, and includes examples of each. This is the stuff I am working on right at this moment, and indeed for the NHS, no less.

Artificial Intelligence: Glossary
How are getting on with all the AI excitement and nonsense? Seems to me it largely depends on what kind of content work you do and who you do it for. Either way, this AI glossary from Nielsen Norman is actually pretty good route into it and a helpful guide to what things actually mean.