PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Back in the day, when I was hiring for positions in state government or in my firm, CFM Strategic Communications, one of the most important questions for me was this: Can you write, and if so, prove it.

I remember asking this question and even subjecting applicants to a writing test to assure that, if they said they could write, they could. It was a way to test their perceptions about their own skills.

But, to mimic the headline in this blog, what comes first – clear writing or clear thinking?

For me, it would be that clear writing indicates an ability to think clearly. So writing is first.

For two writers of letters to the editor of the Wall Street Journal, it was the reverse. The two letters appeared under the headline:

Clear Thought, Practice Yield Clear Writing

American students begin their higher education with poor writing abilities and are seldom given reason to improve them.

In one letter, a writer from Annapolis, Maryland, said this:

“It is disheartening that college readiness in math fell to its lowest level since 2004, but I am baffled by the absence of interest in crumbling writing skills. When writing was introduced to the ACT college-entrance exam in 2006, the average score was 7.7. It then fell. Now, the writing test is optional, and the average score isn’t reported, perhaps to save everyone embarrassment. The optional essay-writing section of the SAT is required by a declining number of colleges.

“So American students begin their higher education with poor writing abilities and are seldom given reason to improve them. Few universities concern themselves with teaching practical writing skills for the workplace. Poor writing skills have been identified as the biggest disconnect between academia and what employers need, in some cases desperately. Our digital age doesn’t reduce the need for well-written, everyday communication, ranging from customer correspondence to marketing materials to presentations.

“The Center for Plain Language, which pushes federal agencies to write more clearly and usefully, just gave them an average grade of C, down from B.

“Should we care the about quality of writing? How can we not?”

A second letter writer from Phoenix, Arizona said this:

“When I taught journalism lab classes for a professor at Arizona State University, I spent the first two weeks teaching students the difference between ‘they’re,’ ‘their’ and ‘there,’ as well as when and why to use apostrophes.

“School districts in many states, including Arizona, scream about higher pay for teachers and wave their banners as they beg for more money. Your article and my experience show that most teachers lack the ability to teach students what they need to know to pass the ACT or SAT, probably because the teachers were never taught. We baby boomers were probably the last generation to receive a really good education.”

So, which comes first – clear writing or clear thinking? Well, in many ways, it doesn’t matter.

Write clearly to indicate your ability to think clearly.  Or think clearly, then illustrate your ability to write clearly.

Have it both ways!