Do you form opinions about people based upon their written communications with you? 你会通过别人和你的书面交流来判断对方吗？

Can you distinguish between the people who take pride in their communications and those who don’t? 你能辨别出对自己的书面交流引以为豪而谁则不然吗？

In today’s electronic age, one of the primary ways we are branding ourselves is through our typed words. 身处电子时代，打字式交流成为我们推销自己的主要方式之一。

Our emails, text messages, and posts on social media sites reveal much about who we are. 我们可以在邮件，短信，和社会媒体网站上的文章中找到许多关于自己的信息。

How you are viewed impacts the respect people have for you, the influence you have with others, and the people you attract into your life. 别人怎么看你影响着他们对你的尊重程度，你对别人的影响力以及你生活圈中有哪些人。

These things play an important role in your personal and professional relationships, in the value you bring to the market, and how you feel about yourself. 这些东西无论是对你的私人关系还是生意圈，亦或是对你在市场上的价值和对自己的看法都扮演着重要角色。

It really boils down to this: do you care about how you are viewed? Do you want to create a positive brand for yourself? 归结起来其实就是：你在不在乎别人对你的看法？你想不想为自己塑造一个正面形象？

If you do, it’s important that you start taking pride in everything you type and write. 如果答案是肯定的，很重要的一点是，你要开始对你打出来或写出来的东西引以为豪。

Begin today to put an emphasis on developing your written communication skills. 从今天开始，重点培养你的书面交流能力。

Of all the written communication skills on my list, here are my top 14 tips to consider with every message you type. 在我列出的所有书面交流能力中，下面是你在发每条信息时都应考虑的14条原则。

1.  Write short sentences. Short sentences are easier to read than long sentences. 1.句子宜短不宜长。短句言简意赅，一目了然。

If a sentence feels like it’s getting long, break it into two. 如果一个句子看起来太长，把它合理切分。

2.  Write short paragraphs. Limit your paragraphs to three sentences. This allows for white space and improves readability. 2.段落应简短。每段不要超过三句话，这样可以留点间距，提高可读性。

If a paragraph looks like a big block of text, consider how you can divide it into two or three smaller paragraphs. 如果一段话看起来像是一大篇文章，考虑一下如何把它切分为两到三个小段。

3.  Capitalize the first letter of each sentence. 3.每句话开头第一个字母大写。

Not hitting the shift key is a surefire way to tell people you don’t care about how you are viewed. 如果你不按shift键别人就能肯定你不在乎他人的看法。

4.  Use people’s names. Just as people notice when you speak their names, they are also aware when they read their names. 4.使用读者的名字。就像人们听到自己的名字时会提高注意力一样，他们看到自己的名字时也会有同样的反应。

Writing “Hi Joe,” or “Hey Sue,” lets them know the message is for them and makes the person feel valued. 发信息时写上你目标读者的名字能让对方知道这是发给他们的消息，也会感觉被更尊重。

5.  Be clear. With every message you type, ask yourself, “Is this message clear and to the point?” 5.简洁清晰。每次发信息前问问自己这封信息够简洁了吗？做到言简意赅了吗？

No one likes having to read a message more than once to figure out what the other person is trying to say. 没有人喜欢重读短信才能清楚发信人的意思。

6.  Be concise. Learn to communicate your messages in the fewest number of words possible. 6.言简意赅。尽可能以最少的字数传达准确信息，

This is my goal with every sentence I write. 这是我每次写东西时的目标。

7.  Look for potential misunderstandings. As you proof your messages ask, “How could this be misunderstood?” 7.找出有可能被误解的地方。在审校你的信件时，问问自己“这个地方会被如何误解？”

Go the extra mile to avoid potential misunderstandings. 多花点功夫确保不被误解。

8.  Provide a complete response. When you receive a message that asks multiple questions, be sure to address each subject or question asked. 8.回信时要完整。收到一封询问许多问题的信件时，回复前确保解决好每一个提及的问题，

Don’t make people send another message repeating the overlooked question because you didn’t take the time to provide a complete response. 不要因为偷懒让对方再发一份重复信件。