Slack

In written digital communications, we have a tendency to overexplain to ensure there isn't a misunderstanding. But there's a cost.

The same is true of having to resolve confusion after a misunderstanding or miscommunication over a digital platform. Ninety-three percent felt the need to write multiple sentences to fully explain something, 82% have felt the need to use extra punctuation like multiple exclamation marks, and 77% have felt the need to use emojis. In contrast, face-to-face conversations or video calls allow for more layers of meaning to be conveyed between and among parties. “The shift to a more fragmented, dispersed workplace has exacerbated these challenges. “Language is inherently complex,” says Senka Hadzimuratovic, head of communications at AI writing platform Grammarly. “That’s even more pronounced in a business setting where you’re constantly managing competing priorities, multiple stakeholders, and deadline pressures. Jotting off a quick IM or email is a fast way to communicate, but the written word can easily be misinterpreted.