Do you ever worry that your writing isn’t clear?

Whether you’re drafting an email newsletter, scripting a YouTube video, or writing a research paper, your ideas won’t reach your readers unless your writing is easy to understand.

But when you look for help online, the advice usually falls into two frustrating categories:

• Vague advice like “Be clear,” “Say what you mean,” or “Keep it simple”—none of which tells you how to actually do it.
• Strict rules like “Never use passive voice,” or “Always start paragraphs with topic sentences,” which don’t always apply.

In this article, you’ll learn three practical, reader-focused tips you can apply right now to make your writing clearer and more engaging.

Tip #1: Keep Your Grammatical Subjects Short

Remember playing the “hold your breath through a tunnel” game as a kid? The longer the tunnel, the harder it was—and the more you couldn’t wait for the exit.

Readers feel the same way when sentences drag on before reaching the verb.

Consider these two sentences:

1. A detailed explanation of why readers find it difficult to read sentences whose grammatical subjects are overloaded is given in this video.

2. This video explains in detail why readers find it difficult to read sentences whose grammatical subjects are overloaded.

If the second sentence feels easier to read, it’s because the verb (“explains”) arrives quickly, giving readers immediate clarity.

Readers hold their breath waiting for the verb—the action of your sentence. The sooner it arrives, the easier the sentence feels.

Actionable Tip:

Tip #2: Eliminate Zombie Nouns to Energize Your Writing

Ever read writing that feels lifeless, dull, or heavy? Chances are, it’s filled with “zombie nouns.”

Zombie nouns are verbs turned into nouns, sucking the life out of sentences. Look at these examples:

The transformation of humans into zombies was a result of the virus’s mutation.

The detection of movement signaled zombies nearby.

The destruction of the quarantine zone allowed zombies to infiltrate safe areas.

The actions...

• transform
• mutate
• detect
• move
• destroy
• infiltrate

...are represented as nouns, not verbs:

• transformation
• mutation
• detection
• movement
• destruction
• infiltration

This makes your writing dull and passive.

Here’s how to fix zombie nouns in three easy steps:

1. Identify zombie nouns 

(usually ending in -tion, -ment, -ence) and find their original verbs.

• transformation → transform
• detection → detect
• destruction → destroy

2. Decide who performs the action 

and place them in the subject position:

• Humans transformed; Virus mutated
• Humans detected; Zombies moved
• Quarantine zone was destroyed; Zombies infiltrated

3. Connect clauses clearly:

• The virus mutated, transforming humans into zombies.
• As zombies moved in the shadows, humans detected them nearby.
• Because the quarantine zone was destroyed, zombies infiltrated safe areas.

Your writing instantly feels lively and engaging.

Tip #3: Structure Sentences for Natural Flow

Clear sentences aren’t enough if your ideas don’t flow smoothly from one to the next. But what exactly is “flow”?

Think of your writing like assembling a 3D puzzle. Each sentence isn’t just a separate piece—it’s part of a bigger picture, and readers need to see how everything connects.

Consider this paragraph. Can you spot which sentence breaks the flow?

The properties of lightness, strength, and resistance to corrosion make aluminum one of the most versatile industrial materials. Firstly, aluminum is one of the lightest metals that has ever been used. Today, numerous products, from cans to medical appliances to airplanes, use it. Due to the need for lightweight yet strong materials in these products, aluminum is often the preferred choice.

Did you find the awkward sentence?

The properties of lightness, strength, and resistance to corrosion make aluminum one of the most versatile industrial materials. Firstly, aluminum is one of the lightest metals that has ever been used. Today, numerous products, from cans to medical appliances to airplanes, use it. Due to the need for lightweight yet strong materials in these products, aluminum is often the preferred choice.

This sentence breaks the flow because it doesn’t follow the reader-friendly pattern of moving from old (familiar) information to new information.

To restore the flow, rearrange the sentence so that familiar information (“aluminum”) appears first:

• Today, it (aluminum) is used by numerous products, from cans to medical appliances to airplanes.

Notice, this improved flow uses the passive voice, breaking a common writing “rule.” But clear writing isn’t about rigid rules—it’s about meeting your reader’s expectations for information structure.

Actionable Tip:

In Sum:

• Keep grammatical subjects short—quickly guide readers to your verb for instant clarity.
• Eliminate zombie nouns—use active verbs to energize your sentences.
• Structure sentences for flow—start with familiar information and introduce new ideas at the end.