From fact to message

A source is not yet an argument.

How do you write a message from a document? This guide helps you find the facts, explain the figures and organise a review.

Editorial collage: people, ideas and documents connected.

01

Start with the claim

Write the sentence you want to publish. Mark what it states as a fact, what it interprets and what it invites people to do. A single sentence often mixes all three.

02

Return to the document

Find the document containing the information. Note who wrote it, when and what it describes. For example, the number of workshop visits is not the number of different people: someone may have come several times.

03

Say what still needs confirming

If a workshop venue is not confirmed, say so on the page and in the email. If a budget is an estimate, label it as such. Shortening a text should make it easier to read while keeping the details people need to decide whether to take part.

04

Review a specific version of the text

Send the text and source together. Request a decision on that version. If the source changes, identify the passages that need another look.

A good message helps people understand what is known, what is proposed and what still needs checking.

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