2. Using the Formality Index, you’ve determined that your communication
is very informal. 2
3. Your message is upbeat and fun. 1
4. If your readers misunderstand your message, no negative consequences
will result. 1
5. Your communication is short. 1
6. Your communication is simple. 1
7. Your communication includes only one section. For example, it’s
a 100-word newsletter article, a business letter, a memo, or an
E-mail with no attachments. 1
8. Only one subject is included in your communication. 3
9. Using the Matrix of Persuasion, you’ve determined that your
readers are on your side and that they have the resources to do
as you ask; in other words, you’ve assessed your writing task as
Easy. 5
“My score totaled sixteen—Level Three: Everything. This makes sense,
given that my business success rides on my proposals convincing the
‘powers that be’ to hire my company. That means they have to be perfect
in every way.”
Proofing to Level Three standards includes assessing all of the elements
listed in the checklists for Levels One and Two (see pages 128 and
130), plus the following:
1. Is your format correct?
2. Are there other items you could include, and if so, should you?
3. Consider how difficult or easy it is to read your text; is it an
appropriate level of difficulty?
4. Are you using your readers’ names enough? Are you using them
too frequently?
5. Is your text specific enough to prove your points?
6. Have you evaluated the consistency of your sentences’ grammatical
constructions, bulleted lists, noun/pronoun agreement,
subject/verb agreement, and other parallel construction issues?
7. Have you confirmed peoples’ names by asking them if they’re
correct?
8. Have you added all information that could and should be
included?