Why we do it
Waste of time & money
We are in the midst of a communications crisis. An estimated 80% of documents produced by organisations are badly written. Problems include:
- basic writing errors
- sloppy, vague, confusing expression
- wordiness and jargon
- poor construction and rambling paragraphs
- semantic, numerical and typographical errors
- poor presentation of ideas and information
Huge cost
Poor writing and communication cost us millions of euro each year in wasted time and lost business opportunities.
- In the USA, an estimated 30% of all business writing is produced to clarify or seek clarification of something already written.
- Badly written letters lose UK businesses an estimated £6 billion a year.
Gobbledygook … or clear English?
How’s this for a reader-friendly message from British Airways to its customers?
Note cancellations before departure fare is refundable. If combining a non-refundable fare with a refundable fare only the Y/C/J-class half return amount can be refunded. After departure fare is refundable. If combining a non-refundable fare with a refundable fare refund the difference/if any/between the fair paid and the applicable normal BA oneway fare.
That is how the airline once explained its ‘charges for changes and cancellations’.
Huge savings
Companies regularly produce documents that are hard to read or even indecipherable. Information, no matter how complex, does not have to be presented in wordy paragraphs and impenetrable jargon. Everyday words can be used to communicate complex information clearly. (See the sidebar for some examples.)
Getting it right
- Merely by redrafting manuals into plain English, General Electric saved $275,000 in one year.
- The US Navy estimated that good English could save it up to $300 million every year.
- By using plain English, British Telecom cut customer queries by 25%.
- The Plain English Campaign has saved the British government an estimated £500 million in the last 20 years.
(Source: Writing for Dollars by Joe Kimble)
- A professional editor rewrote a sales letter for a bank. The redrafted letter brought in an extra $11 million of new business.
(Source: Plain English Campaign)
Why come to us?
SwiftEditing brings years of editing and proofreading experience to the table. We will bring out the best in your material, saving you time and money, and help you create a lasting impression with your clients and customers.