Use this checklist to increase the readability of your documents. Ensure that:

• Transitional words connect ideas logically and improve flow.

• Generic and topic headings and subheadings indicate major shifts in subject matter, move the reader smoothly and economically from one point to the next, and ensure that action items aren't overlooked.

• Informative headings highlight key messages in instructional and persuasive documents.

• Numbered and bulleted lists order or group related items.

• Logically parallel items are grammatically parallel.

• Paragraphs separate ideas and break up long blocks of text.

Next week we will start a series on the writing process, with an initial focus on a practical, streamlined approach to planning any business document.