Sleep: Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

It's critical in journalism that what we write is precise, and that sloppy wording doesn't create an unintended meaning, like we do here:

Studies on sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, carefully and literally read what we wrote here: that sleep studies may cause problems.

Of course, that's not what we meant. What we meant was, studies foundthat sleep deprivation could cause all sorts of problems.

But that's not what we said.

When we finish writing, it's not a bad idea to give yourself a moment or two to decompress, and then start reading your story with an open and blank mind, considering it from the perspective of someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic and no special insight (which is the perspective of almost everyone in your audience).

In addition to checking the facts, make sure that what you say makes sense, and is true to the facts, and that you're saying what you mean to say, and the way it's written can't possibly be confused by anyone reading the story. Good intentions aren't enough; clarity is key.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. In this case, this (italics mine):

Studies found sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, we do. 

Robbery: Be Clear

After talking about a back-and-forth between Layoux and the robber, this is what one of us wrote:

When he told him to get in the cooler, he shot him.

Uh, who shot who?

In situations where you have multiple players acting at once, it's best to go overboard on literal names and more specific identifiers, like this:

When the robber told Layoux to get in the cooler, Layoux shot the robber.

Now there's no question or confusion or a reader having to guess. It's clear.

Final Ledes: Don't Forget The Obvious

Like here:

Last night, the East Lansing Zoning Board voted unanimously against resident Olivida Saleeby’s request to bury her husband in the backyard of the couple’s home.

It's a great lede, except we never say he's dead. Again, a reader doesn't know where you're going with this. The lede creates momentary confusion -- bury him? What, is that some weird thing he's into? It makes the reader guess why he's being buried.

So, let's anticipate and prevent the confusion by providing the obvious (to us, but not necessarily to the reader) detail: she requested to bury her dead husband.

Sleep: Say What You Mean; Mean What You Say

It's critical in journalism that what we write is precise, and that sloppy wording desn't create an unintended meaning, like we do here:

Studies on sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, carefully and literally read what we wrote here: that sleep studies may cause problems.

Of course, that's not what we meant. What we meant was, studies found that sleep deprivation could cause all sorts of problems.

But that's not what we said.

When we finish writing, it's not a bad idea to give yourself a moment or two to decompress, and then start reading your story with an open and blank mind, considering it from the perspective of someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic and no special insight (which is the perspective of almost everyone in your audience).

In addition to checking the facts, make sure that what you say makes sense, and is true to the facts, and that you're saying what you mean to say, and the way it's written can't possibly be confused by anyone reading the story. Good intentions aren't enough; clarity is key.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. In this case, this (italics mine):

Studies found sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, we do.

Robbery: Be Clear

After talking about a back-and-forth between Layoux and the robber, this is what one of you wrote:

When he told him to get in the cooler, he shot him.

Uh, who shot who?

In situations where you have multiple players acting at once, it's best to go overboard on literal names and more specific identifiers, like this:

When the robber told Layoux to get in the cooler, Layoux shot the robber.

Now there's no question or confusion or a reader having to guess. It's clear.

Robbery: Be Clear

After talking about a back-and-forth between Layoux and the robber, this is what one of us wrote:

When he told him to get in the cooler, he shot him.

Uh, who shot who?

In situations where you have multiple players acting at once, it's best to go overboard on literal names and more specific identifiers, like this:

When the robber told Layoux to get in the cooler, Layoux shot the robber.

Now there's no question or confusion or a reader having to guess. It's clear.

Sleep: Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

It's critical in journalism that what we write is precise, and that sloppy wording doesn't create an unintended meaning, like we do here:

Studies on sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, carefully and literally read what we wrote here: that sleep studies may cause problems.

Of course, that's not what we meant. What we meant was, studies found that sleep deprivation could cause all sorts of problems.

But that's not what we said.

When we finish writing, it's not a bad idea to give yourself a moment or two to decompress, and then start reading your story with an open and blank mind, considering it from the perspective of someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic and no special insight (which is the perspective of almost everyone in your audience).

In addition to checking the facts, make sure that what you say makes sense, and is true to the facts, and that you're saying what you mean to say, and the way it's written can't possibly be confused by anyone reading the story. Good intentions aren't enough; clarity is key.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. In this case, this (italics mine):

Studies found sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, we do.

Final Ledes: Don't Forget The Obvious

Like here:

Last night, the East Lansing Zoning Board voted unanimously against resident Olivida Saleeby’s request to bury her husband in the backyard of the couple’s home.

It's a great lede, except we never say he's dead. Again, a reader doesn't know where you're going with this. The lede creates momentary confusion -- bury him? What, is that some weird thing he's into? It makes the reader guess why he's being buried.

So, let's anticipate and prevent the confusion by providing the obvious (to us, but not necessarily to the reader) detail: she requested to bury her dead husband.

Sleep: Say What You Mean; Mean What You Say

It's critical in journalism that what we write is precise, and that sloppy wording desn't create an unintended meaning, like we do here:

Studies on sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, carefully and literally read what we wrote here: that sleep studies may cause problems.

Of course, that's not what we meant. What we meant was, studies found that sleep deprivation could cause all sorts of problems.

But that's not what we said.

When we finish writing, it's not a bad idea to give yourself a moment or two to decompress, and then start reading your story with an open and blank mind, considering it from the perspective of someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic and no special insight (which is the perspective of almost everyone in your audience).

In addition to checking the facts, make sure that what you say makes sense, and is true to the facts, and that you're saying what you mean to say, and the way it's written can't possibly be confused by anyone reading the story. Good intentions aren't enough; clarity is key.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. In this case, this (italics mine):

Studies found sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, we do.

Robbery: Be Clear

After talking about a back-and-forth between Layoux and the robber, this is what one of you wrote:

When he told him to get in the cooler, he shot him.

Uh, who shot who?

In situations where you have multiple players acting at once, it's best to go overboard on literal names and more specific identifiers, like this:

When the robber told Layoux to get in the cooler, Layoux shot the robber.

Now there's no question or confusion or a reader having to guess. It's clear.

Sleep: Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

It's critical in journalism that what we write is precise, and that sloppy wording desn't create an unintended meaning, like we do here:

Studies on sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, carefully and literally read what we wrote here: that sleep studies may cause problems.

Of course, that's not what we meant. What we meant was, studies found that sleep deprivation could cause all sorts of problems.

But that's not what we said.

When we finish writing, it's not a bad idea to give yourself a moment or two to decompress, and then start reading your story with an open and blank mind, considering it from the perspective of someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic and no special insight (which is the perspective of almost everyone in your audience).

In addition to checking the facts, make sure that what you say makes sense, and is true to the facts, and that you're saying what you mean to say, and the way it's written can't possibly be confused by anyone reading the story. Good intentions aren't enough; clarity is key.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. In this case, this (italics mine):

Studies found sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, we do.

Robbery: Be Clear

After talking about a back-and-forth between Layoux and the robber, this is what one of us wrote:

When he told him to get in the cooler, he shot him.

Uh, who shot who?

In situations where you have multiple players acting at once, it's best to go overboard on literal names and more specific identifiers, like this:

When the robber told Layoux to get in the cooler, Layoux shot the robber.

Now there's no question or confusion or a reader having to guess. It's clear.

Final Ledes: Don't Forget The Obvious

Like here:

Last night, the East Lansing Zoning Board voted unanimously against resident Olivida Saleeby’s request to bury her husband in the backyard of the couple’s home.

It's a great lede, except we never say he's dead. Again, a reader doesn't know where you're going with this. The lede creates momentary confusion -- bury him? What, is that some weird thing he's into? It makes the reader guess why he's being buried.

So, let's anticipate and prevent the confusion by providing the obvious (to us, but not necessarily to the reader) detail: she requested to bury her dead husband.

Sleep: Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say

It's critical in journalism that what we write is precise, and that sloppy wording desn't create an unintended meaning, like we do here:

Studies on sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, carefully and literally read what we wrote here: that sleep studies may cause problems.

Of course, that's not what we meant. What we meant was, studies found that sleep deprivation could cause all sorts of problems.

But that's not what we said.

When we finish writing, it's not a bad idea to give yourself a moment or two to decompress, and then start reading your story with an open and blank mind, considering it from the perspective of someone who has no previous knowledge of the topic and no special insight (which is the perspective of almost everyone in your audience).

In addition to checking the facts, make sure that what you say makes sense, and is true to the facts, and that you're saying what you mean to say, and the way it's written can't possibly be confused by anyone reading the story. Good intentions aren't enough; clarity is key.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say. In this case, this (italics mine):

Studies found sleep deprivation may lead to depression, being clumsy, acting stupid and even causing horrible major disasters.

Now, we do.

Robbery: Be Clear

After talking about a back-and-forth between Layoux and the robber, this is what one of you wrote:

When he told him to get in the cooler, he shot him.

Uh, who shot who?

In situations where you have multiple players acting at once, it's best to go overboard on literal names and more specific identifiers, like this:

When the robber told Layoux to get in the cooler, Layoux shot the robber.

Now there's no question or confusion or a reader having to guess. It's clear.