Respectful Writing

OMG! Fitbit, why are your terms so condescending?

With the imminent implementation of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), "data subjects" (= you and me) are being asked...

Gymnastics Canada, Please Practise What You Preach

I started out impressed. A whole section of a Gymnastics Canada's web site is dedicated to the topic of respect...

Unintentionally Disrespectful

The laws against the most serious offences in the country are written more respectfully than many organization's administrative policies. Most...

Policy Brief #4 Comparing well-written to poorly-written rules

Administrative policies directed at customers and employees should not sound like angry parents talking to bad children. [YouTube video] More Policy...

Policy Brief #3 — More about the real example of unintended hidden messages

I'm sure this association didn't intend for their membership policy to sound so antagonistic. But words matter. [YouTube video] More...

A real-life example: “Come, but don’t bother us”

I came across this policy text (labelled "Requirements") on a non-profit Web site this week, at the top of a...

Advanced Policy Interpretation: Hidden Messages

As the person or organization behind the policy, the lens of your interpretation is from the back, where you're more...

Policies Send Out Unintended Messages

Yes, it's true. An organization's policies communicate both its intended messages and its unintended ones. The intended messages are read directly...

Writing Rules Without Shouting #2

Policies can be worded harshly or respectfully. A example of a respectful policy statement is the following: ”Employees connect only company-owned technology to the...

Wording Policies Respectfully (2)

Good policies statements are clear, succinct, and respectful of the people they are intended to govern. A confrontational or dictatorial...

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