“Don’t write to impress, write to express!” 

I’m sure you’ve heard this before, and probably not given it much thought. Who has time to think and reflect when there’s so much coming at us all the time, right?

But think about this for a second. It isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a radical shift in how we approach communication. Especially in professional settings like MedTech.

So what exactly does it mean?

When we write to impress, we’re talking about stuffing our sentences with jargon, buzzwords, complex structures, and fancy (or just plain clunky) phrases that make us sound “smart” or “informed”. 

Example? “Our leading-edge, state-of-the-art biometric system has exhibited considerable propensity for identifying inaccuracies, thereby substantially enhancing the reliability of our patient data.” Phew! 

There aren’t really any “difficult” words here, per se. But what is gained by making the reader work so hard? The language is convoluted and clunky. Maybe to some ears it’s impressive, but it could leave your reader thinking, “Huh? Let me read that again.” or worse, “Whatever, whatever, whatever.”

Writing to express, on the other hand, is all about clarity, precision, and simplicity. It’s about being straightforward. 

Here’s the same idea, expressed simply: “Our new biometric system is good at spotting errors. This makes our patient data more reliable.” Ah, much better! 

Writing to express is not about dumbing things down but about elevating your audience, in a sense.

It’s about respect – for your message, and for those reading it. It’s you saying, “I want you to understand. I value your time. And I’m really good at ‘reading the room’ and using words.” 

The goal of communication is connection, not confusion.

The scenic route is fine in a novel, but when it comes to professional writing, the straight path is the most sensible one.

So next time you’re about to write that report, email, or presentation, ask yourself: Am I writing to impress or to express?

The answer might change your message – and its impact – entirely!