Writing
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
Write out the full name of any acronym or abbreviation upon its first appearance in a message.
Including the complete terms ensures broader comprehension; do not presume all readers know the shorthand.
6 people, independently
Consider your audience's background and avoid assuming they know industry-specific jargon or acronyms.
Readers often lack your specific expertise; dumping niche abbreviations from your field will confuse them.
4 people, independently
Use proper grammar and spelling in communication.
You certainly lose points when it's incorrect.
one person who lived it
Avoid filling posts with acronyms that only experts can decipher, as this alienates newcomers and makes it difficult for others to keep up.
Acronym salads discourage newcomers from joining the community and make non-experts feel unable to follow the conversation.
2 people, independently
4 more on this
Be aware that acronyms can have multiple meanings depending on context, which can lead to misunderstanding.
4 people, independently
Replace lazy modifiers like 'very' with specific, stronger adjectives (e.g., use 'exhausted' instead of 'very tired').
Using 'very' is considered lazy writing.
2 people, independently
Proofread posts for grammar and spelling errors before publishing to large forums.
one person who lived it
In scientific writing, consider using 'however' instead of 'but'.
One reader observed this pattern after reading many scientific papers.
one person who lived it