How Writing Works

Cognition

5 Science-Backed Ways to Write Clearly

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on June 24, 2024

To write clearly, you must understand how our reading brains process written language. You'll never look at a sentence in the same way again.

To write clearly, you must understand how our reading brains process written language. You'll never look at a sentence in the same way again.

Education

The One Method That Changes Your—and All Students’—Writing

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on May 14, 2024

Researchers developed a method to transform students' writing over 30 years ago. What happened to it?

Researchers developed a method to transform students' writing over 30 years ago. What happened to it?

Fear

Spot the Chatbot: Study Provides Reasons for Hope, Fear

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on January 22, 2023

Worried that a bot might write a student's assignment? A New York Times article revealed experts were unable to spot ChatGPT essays.

Worried that a bot might write a student's assignment? A New York Times article revealed experts were unable to spot ChatGPT essays.

Teamwork

The Office Dies a Long-Overdue Death

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on June 25, 2021

Office—what office? The New York Times' analysis of the death of the office should also invite questions about the way we approach classrooms.

Office—what office? The New York Times' analysis of the death of the office should also invite questions about the way we approach classrooms.

Education

Turn Your Kid Into a Reading and Writing Genius

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on January 29, 2021

Freaked out about home-schooling while you #WFH? Don't worry—this solution doesn't even involve #toomuchscreentime.

Freaked out about home-schooling while you #WFH? Don't worry—this solution doesn't even involve #toomuchscreentime.

Can distance learning yield better learning outcomes than traditional classrooms? The answers might surprise you.

Cognition

Ditch Leaning In and Promote Thyself

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on January 9, 2020

Why are women underrepresented in biomedical science? The answer is actually semantic.

Why are women underrepresented in biomedical science? The answer is actually semantic.

Mating

What Makes a Dating Profile Attractive?

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on November 24, 2019

Want to be more attractive in online dating? Ditch retouching your headshot and run spell-check instead.

Want to be more attractive in online dating? Ditch retouching your headshot and run spell-check instead.

Career

Not Getting Interviews From Your Job Applications?

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on October 16, 2019

Frustrated by fruitless job applications? A few steps can help you secure interviews—and job offers.

Frustrated by fruitless job applications? A few steps can help you secure interviews—and job offers.

Consumer Behavior

How You Can Get Anyone to Read—and Act on Your Emails

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on July 23, 2019

Wonder why your emails get ignored? You're probably missing one or more of these six essentials.

Wonder why your emails get ignored? You're probably missing one or more of these six essentials.

Career

Why We Should Pay to Send Emails

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on July 16, 2019

Email overload is so bad that some of us are charging senders to read it.

Email overload is so bad that some of us are charging senders to read it.

Creativity

Why the Web's 30th "Birthday" Is a Myth

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on March 12, 2019

The World Wide Web debuted 30 years ago. Except that it didn't.

The World Wide Web debuted 30 years ago. Except that it didn't.

Media

Is Skim Reading the New Normal?

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on January 8, 2019

Skim reading is the product of mass literacy—not of digital readers.

Skim reading is the product of mass literacy—not of digital readers.

Attention

One Way to Write an Outstanding Job Application Letter

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on November 27, 2018

Tired of never getting job interviews? How your cover letter can help clinch a job offer.

Tired of never getting job interviews? How your cover letter can help clinch a job offer.

Media

Is Social Media Making Us More Sophisticated Writers?

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on July 29, 2018

A study claims that social media texts may be reliable indicators of overall academic performance

A study claims that social media texts may be reliable indicators of overall academic performance

Career

Two Reasons Why More Punctuation Is Better Than Less

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on June 13, 2018

Can commas prevent lawsuits? You'd be surprised.

Can commas prevent lawsuits? You'd be surprised.

Play

The One Time You Should Use 150 Synonyms for One Concept

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on June 5, 2018

That rule you remember best from English classes? Forget it—it’s actually damaging your writing.

That rule you remember best from English classes? Forget it—it’s actually damaging your writing.

Diet

Four Things No One Tells You About Biomedicine

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on May 31, 2018

Confused about the latest news in medicine? You should be.

Confused about the latest news in medicine? You should be.

Health

Three Reasons Why the Latest Medical News is So Confusing

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on May 29, 2018

Freaking out over the latest health news headlines? It's not your fault.

Freaking out over the latest health news headlines? It's not your fault.

Priming

Yanni or Laurel? Why Linguistic Priming Matters

Yellowlees Douglas Ph.D. on May 21, 2018

What the Yanni/Laurel test tells you about your ears—and brain.

What the Yanni/Laurel test tells you about your ears—and brain.