Do I Make Myself Clear? by Harold Evans
Do I Make Myself Clear? by Harold Evans is a sharp critique and a practical guide that champions the power of clarity in writing. With decades of experience as a top editor, Evans exposes how vague, bloated, or manipulative language muddies communication, distorts truth, and weakens trust in public discourse. This book is both a call to arms and a toolkit for anyone who wants to write clearly and think sharply in a noisy world.
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Writers and editors aiming to improve clarity and impact
- Students and academics seeking better writing techniques
- Professionals who need to communicate more effectively
- Readers curious about political and media language manipulation
- Journalists and content creators fighting against misinformation
Top 3 Key Insights
- Clear writing is clear thinking. If the idea isn’t sharp in your head, it won’t be on paper.
- The passive voice and vague language are tools often used to confuse or mislead.
- Great writing blends clarity with rhythm, balance, and variety to keep readers engaged.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- Bad writing can cost billions. In finance and politics, unclear language hides responsibility and encourages wrongdoing.
- Online content has worsened writing. Without space constraints, modern writing often becomes long-winded and aimless.
- Zombie nouns and “word gluttons” destroy clarity. Words like “implementation” and phrases like “test out” clutter your message.
- Simple isn’t boring. Clear writing doesn’t mean flat or dull. It means cutting the clutter to let the message shine.
The Book in 1 Sentence
A practical and passionate guide to writing clearly and ethically in a world polluted by vague and deceptive language.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
Harold Evans’s Do I Make Myself Clear? teaches how to write with clarity, purpose, and precision. Drawing from his deep experience as an editor and journalist, Evans reveals the dangers of unclear, passive, or bloated language. He shows how politicians, corporations, and media use foggy words to manipulate public perception. Evans encourages active voice, strong verbs, and concise sentences. He critiques academic and corporate jargon, calling for simple yet engaging writing. The book warns that poor writing doesn’t just confuse — it can also mislead, cost money, and erode truth. With tips, tools, and examples, it’s a powerful manual for anyone who wants to write better and think sharper.
The Book Summary in 7 Minutes
In Do I Make Myself Clear?, Harold Evans explores the critical importance of clear writing in public and private life. This section breaks down the book’s key themes, practical tips, and illustrative examples.
The Clarity Crisis in Modern Communication
In today’s digital age, there’s no limit to how much we can write. The result? Endless articles, corporate emails, and news stories filled with bloated language and jargon.
Evans argues that this isn’t just annoying — it’s dangerous. Vague or complicated language allows politicians to dodge responsibility, lets marketers mislead customers, and leaves the public confused. Clear writing is not just good practice. It’s essential for truth and trust.
Why the Passive Voice Is a Problem
Evans strongly advises against the overuse of passive voice. It makes sentences longer and hides the actor behind an action.
| Passive Voice | Active Voice |
|---|---|
| “Mistakes were made.” | “I made mistakes.” |
| “The law was broken.” | “He broke the law.” |
In critical contexts like legal or political communication, passive voice can obscure blame. Using the active voice brings honesty and strength to writing.
Cluttered Language: The Curse of Modern Prose
Evans introduces two major villains:
- Zombie Nouns: Nouns formed from verbs (like “implementation”) that weaken a sentence.
- Word Gluttons: Unnecessary or redundant words that add no value.
He encourages replacing them with simpler, more direct words. Instead of saying “conduct an investigation,” just say “investigate.”
He also points out how prepositions and adverbs bloat prose. Example: “Test out” becomes “test.” “Meet up” becomes “meet.”
The Impact of Poor Writing in Real Life
Evans gives real-world examples to show how bad writing leads to real problems. During the 2008 financial crisis, banks used complex jargon in documents to hide the risks of their products. This miscommunication contributed to widespread economic fallout.
Even public voting suffers. Poorly written ballots confuse citizens, leading to decisions they might not have made with clearer wording.
Readability Matters — But Don’t Rely Only on Tools
Evans discusses readability scores like Flesch-Kincaid and Gunning Fog Index. These tools estimate how easy text is to read.
While helpful, they aren’t enough. A sentence may be short and simple yet still unclear. Or it may follow every rule but feel dry. Tools are guides — not rules.
The real test is: does your reader understand your point without re-reading?
The Art and Rhythm of Good Writing
Evans doesn’t preach simplicity for its own sake. He values beauty and rhythm in writing too. He teaches how to vary sentence length and structure to avoid monotony.
Great writing is like music. It uses a mix of short and long sentences, questions and commands, balanced and punchy phrases.
He encourages:
- Avoiding front-loading sentences with too much info.
- Mixing simple and complex sentence forms.
- Using occasional one-word sentences for impact. Like this: Exactly.
How Writers Can Improve Today
Writing clearly is not an innate gift. It’s a skill anyone can learn.
Even Shakespeare started out rough. Over time, he honed his craft. Evans tells readers: you can do the same.
Start by cutting vague words. Replace passives with actives. Use strong verbs. Vary your rhythm. Keep your reader in mind at all times.
Writing as a Weapon Against Lies
Evans draws a powerful link between clear writing and truth.
He connects poor writing with the rise of “post-truth” politics. Public figures use language to dodge facts, twist meaning, and manipulate perception.
Evans urges readers to push back by writing with integrity. By choosing words with care. By avoiding manipulative or misleading terms.
Clarity is a moral stance. It’s how we preserve truth in a world that tries to bury it.
About the Author
Harold Evans
Harold Evans was one of the most respected editors of the 20th century. He served as the editor of The Sunday Times for 14 years, where he became known for his investigative journalism and editorial excellence. Later, he moved to the U.S. and became the president and publisher of Random House, overseeing the publication of major authors such as Norman Mailer and E.L. Doctorow. His lifelong dedication to truthful and powerful writing earned him a knighthood in 2004. Evans passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of journalistic integrity and literary clarity.
How to Get the Best of the Book
Read the book slowly and with a highlighter. Apply the tips to your daily writing. Reread key sections when editing your own work.
Conclusion
Do I Make Myself Clear? is a wake-up call for better writing. It doesn’t just teach how to write well. It reminds us why clear writing matters. For honesty. For impact. For truth.
