Technical fields often require professionals to communicate complex information quickly. Readability tools such as bullets are great devices for this type of job. They summarize information into packets which readers can quickly process.
However, like all writing devices, bullets have their place. Appropriate places to use bullets include presentation slides, resumes, flyers, and executive summaries in reports. They do not belong in essays or the main body of reports.
It doesn’t take a lot of thought to understand why this is so. Bullets are a readability device intended to communicate complex information quickly by dividing it into smaller packets and then organizing them in a list. That works great for, say, an executive summary because the intention of the executive summary is to provide the essential crux of the information contained in the report.
But the main body of the report is intended to communicate detailed information in a space where time is not as much of a factor. Using a time saving device in this environment is therefore inconsistent and not appropriate.
The graphic above summarizes the main points of this post and demonstrates an effective use of using bullets. Note that only the essential conclusions are bulleted items. The actual reasons for those conclusions, which is more detailed information, appears in the post itself.
Bite the bullet in essays and the main body of reports. More consistent writing is more professional writing, and the attendant image will improve the estimation of the writer and the brands associated with that writing.
However, like all writing devices, bullets have their place. Appropriate places to use bullets include presentation slides, resumes, flyers, and executive summaries in reports. They do not belong in essays or the main body of reports.
It doesn’t take a lot of thought to understand why this is so. Bullets are a readability device intended to communicate complex information quickly by dividing it into smaller packets and then organizing them in a list. That works great for, say, an executive summary because the intention of the executive summary is to provide the essential crux of the information contained in the report.
But the main body of the report is intended to communicate detailed information in a space where time is not as much of a factor. Using a time saving device in this environment is therefore inconsistent and not appropriate.
The graphic above summarizes the main points of this post and demonstrates an effective use of using bullets. Note that only the essential conclusions are bulleted items. The actual reasons for those conclusions, which is more detailed information, appears in the post itself.
Bite the bullet in essays and the main body of reports. More consistent writing is more professional writing, and the attendant image will improve the estimation of the writer and the brands associated with that writing.
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