What am I trying not to say? (4)

To produce clear writing, always try to say what you mean. Never try not to say what you mean. We have discussed this before; here is our latest example.

On the government roads in New Hampshire, large signs offer the following advice:

AIRBAGS SAVE LIVES

FOR SAFETY’S SAKE
PLACE CHILDREN IN REAR SEAT

The reader immediately senses a fallacy. He wonders: if airbags save lives, why should safety dictate that children be in the rear seat, where there are no airbags?

He probably guesses that the government of New Hampshire is trying not to say something. And he probably guesses what that something is: children in the front seat are often injured or killed by airbags.

So, the New Hampshire signs should have read:

AIRBAGS KILL KIDS

FOR SAFETY’S SAKE
PLACE CHILDREN IN REAR SEAT

The Takeaway: Try to say what you mean. If you try not to say what you mean, you will not make your point clearly. Also, you will look foolish or even sneaky. Many of your readers will stop trusting you.