Do I Make Myself Clear? by Harold Evans Summary

Do I Make Myself Clear? is a practical guide to writing clearly and effectively in the digital age. Harold Evans, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editor, emphasizes concise communication, active voice, and eliminating jargon. The book includes editing techniques, historical examples, and a 10-point checklist to transform bloated prose into precise writing.

This book is ideal for writers, editors, students, and professionals seeking to improve their communication skills. Evans’ actionable advice benefits anyone crafting emails, reports, or creative content, particularly in an era plagued by information overload and unclear digital messaging.

Yes, Evans combines decades of editorial expertise with engaging examples, making it a standout resource for mastering clarity. The book’s blend of historical context (e.g., Lucius Adelno Sherman’s sentence analysis) and modern challenges (texting abbreviations like "LMK") ensures relevance across generations.

Evans’ checklist includes strategies like prioritizing strong verbs, avoiding passive voice, and trimming redundancies. For example, he rewrites convoluted sentences like “The decision was made to proceed” to “We decided to proceed,” showcasing immediate improvements.

The book critiques overreliance on formulas like Flesch-Kincaid, arguing they miss nuances like logical flow or audience needs. Evans agrees with experts like Ginny Redish, stressing that clarity requires more than metrics—it demands empathetic editing.

Notable lines include:

• “Vigorous writing demands sentences with muscle, strong active verbs cast in the active voice.”
• “The digital era has cut off the oxygen flow to precise language.”
  These underscore Evans’ mission to combat lazy communication.

Unlike strictly technical manuals, Evans blends journalism anecdotes (e.g., editing Henry Kissinger) with actionable frameworks. This dual focus on theory and practice makes complex concepts accessible, setting it apart from dry grammar guides.

Some reviewers note Evans’ brief treatment of readability formulas and his occasional dense prose. However, these are minor flaws in an otherwise comprehensive toolkit for aspiring writers.

The book teaches professionals to eliminate corporate jargon (e.g., “synergize paradigms”) in favor of direct language. Evans’ editing examples demonstrate how clarity boosts credibility, whether in emails, pitches, or reports.

In an age of AI-generated content and misinformation, Evans’ emphasis on precision remains vital. The book equips readers to spot ambiguous language in news, social media, and marketing, fostering critical thinking.

He analyzes texts from Winston Churchill to legal documents, showing how timeless principles apply today. For instance, dissecting Churchill’s speeches reveals the power of rhythmic cadence and simplicity.

Evans highlights overuse of passive voice, nominalizations (“discussion” vs. “discuss”), and vague adjectives. He provides before-and-after edits to illustrate fixes, such as changing “a period of considerable difficulty” to “a crisis”.