Welcome to Issue 99 of Clearly YOU. Every second Wednesday, I serve up ideas that help you share the clearest, realest, most unforgettable version of yourself with the world. Not a subscriber? Let's fix that: https://kimscaravelli.com/newsletter/
We talk a lot about finding the right words.
And when we’re thinking about how to communicate important things, we tend to give a lot of credit to big ideas and bold statements.
But honestly, it’s not the clever, trendy words that do the heavy lifting.
More often, it’s the small, familiar ones. The words that draw people in without trying too hard. The ones that don’t demand attention, but quietly add context and guide readers toward you.
In this issue, I want to showcase and salute three simple words that punch far above their weight: because, here’s, and let’s.
And yes, two of them are contractions. My third-grade English teacher might object, but I’m comfortable with my choices.
Cool Quote
"If you want to be understood, you must first be understandable."
Madeleine Blais, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist
Why These Small Words Work
⚡️BECAUSE adds context
It answers the quiet, unspoken question: why should I care about this? When people understand the reason behind your message, they’re more open to it. “Because” does that work quietly and efficiently.
Example: Imagine that you're sending an email...
- “Please review this before Friday.”
- “Please review this before Friday, because I want to make sure we have time to address any questions.”
That simple "because" turns a somewhat harsh command into a reasonable, compelling request.
🧭 HERE'S offers gentle guidance
It tells the reader that something specific and useful is coming next. No guessing. No mental warm-up required. It lowers the effort of reading and creates an immediate sense of connection.
Example: You're writing the lead-in sentence for a bullet-point list...
- "What you will learn:"
- "Here's what you will learn:"
"Here's" changes the vibe from impersonal to helpful and friendly.
👋 LET'S invites collaboration
It turns instruction into partnership, adding a sense that you’re moving alongside the reader, not just talking at them.
Example: You want readers to review a summary...
- “Take a moment to review key points.”
- “Let’s take a moment to review key points.”
"Let's" adds a calm, human voice. It reminds the reader that they're not alone. You're with them - and you're helping.
BECAUSE explains. HERE'S guides. LET'S invites.
None of these words are fancy. None of them try to impress. They simply make your writing easier to follow and easier to trust. And that’s the kind of power that lasts.
Stuff Worth Sharing
If you enjoy thinking about how words work, not just how they sound, Gill Andrews is worth your time. Her writing on copy and content focuses on clarity, intention, and helping language do its job (with a dollop of style).
She has a deep library of work, but this link takes you straight to her posts about writing content and using words well: https://gillandrews.com/category/content-marketing/copywriting/
And just to be clear, this isn’t sponsored. No one pays me to recommend things here. I share what I genuinely find useful and thoughtful, and this fits squarely in that category.
For the Word Nerds
Orienting is a concept we should give more space to. It goes beyond explaining or persuading.
Explanation answers why.
Persuasion tries to move someone.
Orientation does something quieter. It helps people get their bearings.
Orienting language, like because, here’s, and let’s, doesn’t just add information. It reduces uncertainty.
And when uncertainty drops, clarity has room to land.
Enjoying Clearly YOU? Share it with a friend!
Want more like this? My book, Making Words Work, goes deeper into writing that’s clear, confident, and human.
🩷 Thanks for reading. I’m glad you’re here.
|
|
|
