January is the “re” month.

No, that’s not a typo. These are the first two letters of words we seem to use, see, or read about often this month. Words like “resolve,” “renew,” “review,” “reflection,” “reorganize,” and many more. Friends selected “recombobulation” as their word for 2021. Interesting, and appropriate, wouldn’t you agree?

While not my word of 2021, I’ve been in a “revisit” mode lately. Maybe you, too? For instance, I recently revisited two guiding principles that help create compelling communications and content. The importance of precision and focus, in writing, editing, and speaking, should be obvious and appreciated by those who supply and those who demand great communications. Precision and focus were required and regularly reinforced by my editors and colleagues early on and throughout my career.

I still experience nervous discomfort when I recall editors painstakingly line-editing my copy when I was a business technology reporter. They were generous with their time, attention, and experience, pointing out the significance of precision and focus–in fact-checking, sourcing, word choice, sentence and paragraph structure, narrative versus quotations, storytelling, and more.

Delve Into Definitions

In revisiting precision and focus, I probed definitions relevant to communications and content.

• From Macmillan, precision is the “quality of being very accurate and exact…exactitude,” while to focus is “to concentrate on something and pay particular attention to it…to listen.”
• From Merriam-Webster, precision is “the quality or state of being precise; exactness” while focus is the “center of activity, attraction, attention…directed attention, emphasis…to concentrate attention or effort.”

I was delighted to see the linkage of focus to listening—both essential in communications. Yet, I was particularly intrigued by the precision-accuracy connection. So, I Googled further and found “What Is the Difference Between Accuracy and Precision? (thoughtco.com).

Precision and Accuracy

In the article, Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine writes of the “two common definitions of accuracy. In math, science, and engineering, accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true value” while the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has a more rigid definition, where accuracy refers to a measurement with both true and consistent results. The ISO definition means an accurate measurement has no systematic error and no random error. Essentially, the ISO advises that accurate be used when a measurement is both accurate and precise.” She goes on to say “Precision is how consistent results are when measurements are repeated. Precise values differ from each other because of random error, which is a form of observational error.”

I seem to be leaving my communications-content theme, don’t I? Watch out, there’s another connection coming! Helmenstine’s observations resonated with me. I had a realization (more “re” words). For years as managing director at the American Society for Quality I honed our communications and our content to be focused, precise, and accurate. And in that role, I served a global professional membership, all experts devoted to precise and accurate data measurement, analysis, audit, and improvement. Then, as now, the members and I shared a consistent focus—on precision, accuracy, and quality!

Maybe my recent revisit with precision, focus and accuracy did not result in a realization. Instead, I’ve reconnected with the guidance and wisdom of my early editors and mentors. Robust, persistent, and consistent attention to accuracy, precision, focus, and quality takes commitment. And January is just the time—to recommit!

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