I had a question about the last example in point 9 - how does someone use ‘that are’ as a micro aggression? I’m also curious where you stand with numbers in a table for a technical report - I find numbers from 1 to 10 are easier to read as numerals among other numerals with units but many house styles suggest spelling them out as one, two etc
Hey @Cinthya Anand thank you so much for your message! Ah let me clarify - in point 9, those aren’t microaggressions. Those are words to chop out because they aren’t needed. We can usually take out words like simply, literally, often, always, that are etc, without losing any clarity. And it saves time and energy. 😊 A great question about numbers! Yes I also find that numbers written in numerals are way easy for me than words. I actually use numerals for all numbers, so I would write 200 not two hundred. I’ve got to the point where I just don’t care about what style guides say, but realise lots of people do still have to follow them. 😢 I’d like to see style guides giving up on that rule, because - at least from my research and work with disabled and neurodivergent folks - many of us find it easier to read numbers as numerals than words.
Ah got you - my old editor used to say 'if in doubt, cut it out' and I try to live by that maxim everyday. About the use of numerals, I'm trying to convince my team that accessibility is more important than an old style guide, is there any particular research I could direct them to? I am a former copy-editor so I get where they come from (once you get used to a house style anything that slightly deviates looks jarring), but I also think the first aim of editing is to make things easier to read.
The perfect writing maxim! I love that. Ooh yes there's quite a lot of research into numerals being (generally) easier for sighted folks to read. I'd check out Cutts, Nielsen and Loranger, linked in this article from Tech Comm NZ: https://techcomm.nz/Story?Action=View&Story_id=124.
There's also evidence pointing the other way, that reading numerals is quite cognitively demanding:
Also there may be some useful nuggets in some of these (though some are related to dyslexia and may not apply to all sighted readers). Hope these help!
Or just because you're too impatient to actually make something that you have all the ingredients for and you're also too impulsive NOT to go and buy a delicious sausage roll that you really really want in that moment from a shop 5 minutes away.
I see you (I also see a plate with the flaked remnants of the sausage and bacon pastry I unironically bought for lunch today having entirely forgotten this conversation). And thank you for a really useful article which summarises everything that should be known about ADHDers at work. My daughter has a job interview today and I told her the bit about how questions should be given in advance. It's crazy how every job interview relies on a person being able to spontaneously answer questions under duress when such a small number of jobs actually need that.
This is such a lifesaver edition - recently got diagnosed with ADHD and I'm trying to revamp the way I work with clients to reflect what works for my brain. Particularly on the future blindness - I had a real problem agreeing to new projects/tasks because they were due 'later' therefore were immediately forgotten until the deadline came around
Ahh congrats on your diagnosis Cass! That’s so cool that you’ve got that information. I hope it’s helpful and gives you a way in to start finding some things that work for you. I can’t recommend ADHD coaching enough. I’ve been getting ADHD coaching with Lisa Kerr and it’s been liiiife-changing. Wishing you good luck! Can’t seem to tag you @LisaMKerr
As Ettie so kindly mentioned me, if you’d like to find out more about ADHD Coaching, please take a look at my website www.ADHDbrain.Coach (& there’s a link to book a free intro call on the website) 😊
My Substack newsletter is “Down a Rabbit Hole” - no idea how to tag that either. I’m rubbish at Substack 😳
Brilliant article Ettie. I’m now wondering where my slippers are as I noticed I’m sitting here still wearing my outdoor shoes despite arriving home an hour ago 😳
Horribly relatable isn’t it 😂. I found my slippers but then lost my phone (I’d tucked it behind the toaster to try to hide it from view so I wouldn’t get distracted. Sigh. Though I suppose it worked in a way…)
Love this. Very useful, thanks. ADHD tax is also things like buying lunch because we forgot to make it and bring it from home, or getting a takeaway or eating beige freezer food cos we were hyperfocussed and forgot to shop and then cook something green :(
I love how you can write about your experiences with both humour and honesty. Thanks for all the valuable tips! Do you have a similar article about communicating with Autistics too?
Thank you so much @Sabine Harnau!
Not yet but I would like to make one for autism for sure!
Some folks who share absolutely brilliant resources include:
https://www.thearticulateautistic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/blackspectrumscholar/?hl=en
https://lovettejallow.substack.com/
And this one is Lydia X.Z Brown’s old blog, hasn’t been updated in a while but still has some great stuff:
https://www.autistichoya.com/
Thank you, Ettie! Already following Lovette. Added your recommendations to my reading lists.
Thank you for this post Ettie, I feel seen.
I had a question about the last example in point 9 - how does someone use ‘that are’ as a micro aggression? I’m also curious where you stand with numbers in a table for a technical report - I find numbers from 1 to 10 are easier to read as numerals among other numerals with units but many house styles suggest spelling them out as one, two etc
Hey @Cinthya Anand thank you so much for your message! Ah let me clarify - in point 9, those aren’t microaggressions. Those are words to chop out because they aren’t needed. We can usually take out words like simply, literally, often, always, that are etc, without losing any clarity. And it saves time and energy. 😊 A great question about numbers! Yes I also find that numbers written in numerals are way easy for me than words. I actually use numerals for all numbers, so I would write 200 not two hundred. I’ve got to the point where I just don’t care about what style guides say, but realise lots of people do still have to follow them. 😢 I’d like to see style guides giving up on that rule, because - at least from my research and work with disabled and neurodivergent folks - many of us find it easier to read numbers as numerals than words.
Ah got you - my old editor used to say 'if in doubt, cut it out' and I try to live by that maxim everyday. About the use of numerals, I'm trying to convince my team that accessibility is more important than an old style guide, is there any particular research I could direct them to? I am a former copy-editor so I get where they come from (once you get used to a house style anything that slightly deviates looks jarring), but I also think the first aim of editing is to make things easier to read.
The perfect writing maxim! I love that. Ooh yes there's quite a lot of research into numerals being (generally) easier for sighted folks to read. I'd check out Cutts, Nielsen and Loranger, linked in this article from Tech Comm NZ: https://techcomm.nz/Story?Action=View&Story_id=124.
There's also evidence pointing the other way, that reading numerals is quite cognitively demanding:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000169182300118X
Also there may be some useful nuggets in some of these (though some are related to dyslexia and may not apply to all sighted readers). Hope these help!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393216304547
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311585157_Why_are_digits_easier_to_identify_than_letters
Thank you, I’ll check this out. 😇
Or just because you're too impatient to actually make something that you have all the ingredients for and you're also too impulsive NOT to go and buy a delicious sausage roll that you really really want in that moment from a shop 5 minutes away.
Ahem… dusting the pastry flakes off my jumper before my next call. How dare you see me so clearly Jessica 😂
I see you (I also see a plate with the flaked remnants of the sausage and bacon pastry I unironically bought for lunch today having entirely forgotten this conversation). And thank you for a really useful article which summarises everything that should be known about ADHDers at work. My daughter has a job interview today and I told her the bit about how questions should be given in advance. It's crazy how every job interview relies on a person being able to spontaneously answer questions under duress when such a small number of jobs actually need that.
This is brilliant and so so useful, thanks Ettie!
Thank you so much oh lovely and wonderful Laura!
This is such a lifesaver edition - recently got diagnosed with ADHD and I'm trying to revamp the way I work with clients to reflect what works for my brain. Particularly on the future blindness - I had a real problem agreeing to new projects/tasks because they were due 'later' therefore were immediately forgotten until the deadline came around
Ahh congrats on your diagnosis Cass! That’s so cool that you’ve got that information. I hope it’s helpful and gives you a way in to start finding some things that work for you. I can’t recommend ADHD coaching enough. I’ve been getting ADHD coaching with Lisa Kerr and it’s been liiiife-changing. Wishing you good luck! Can’t seem to tag you @LisaMKerr
Aah thank you so much Ettie. I’m not sure how to tag people on Substack either 😬
Hi Cass 👋
As Ettie so kindly mentioned me, if you’d like to find out more about ADHD Coaching, please take a look at my website www.ADHDbrain.Coach (& there’s a link to book a free intro call on the website) 😊
My Substack newsletter is “Down a Rabbit Hole” - no idea how to tag that either. I’m rubbish at Substack 😳
Brilliant article Ettie. I’m now wondering where my slippers are as I noticed I’m sitting here still wearing my outdoor shoes despite arriving home an hour ago 😳
Horribly relatable isn’t it 😂. I found my slippers but then lost my phone (I’d tucked it behind the toaster to try to hide it from view so I wouldn’t get distracted. Sigh. Though I suppose it worked in a way…)
What a bumper resource, thanks so much Ettie!
Love this. Very useful, thanks. ADHD tax is also things like buying lunch because we forgot to make it and bring it from home, or getting a takeaway or eating beige freezer food cos we were hyperfocussed and forgot to shop and then cook something green :(
Oh 100% agreed Louise! I’m having crisps for lunch AGAIN for exactly this reason 😂
incredibly informative Ettie thank you :)
So glad you found it helpful, thank you @isabelle drury!
What a helpful validating read! I want this to be part of email policy, form printing, and just workplaces and life everywhere!
I love how you can write about your experiences with both humour and honesty. Thanks for all the valuable tips! Do you have a similar article about communicating with Autistics too?