Many of you will have received Michelle Miller’s email about the quality and presentation of our written communication. I know that this is sometimes not given priority (especially when there’s a deadline, computers aren’t working or we’re just snowed under) but I do agree with Michelle and I quote from her email:

We are professionals; we expect to be treated with the respect we and our service users deserve; we are the voice of often the most disenfranchised and disadvantaged members of our communities – a voice that needs to be heard loud and clear in circles of power and decision-making; we need to articulate with absolute clarity some of the most complex ideas, theories and assessments, from which life-changing conclusions will be drawn. The language we use and the way we use it are critical.

And it’s not just about grammar, spelling and unfathomable acronyms; it is also that what we write is often the only story people may have, or it may be the chapter that makes sense of the rest. We owe it to them to write their story with respect.

The brief guidance Michelle provided can be viewed here Guidance for Written Communications October 2011.