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### Summary of "Lightning Talk: Writing That Works"  
In this lightning talk, Iryna Zayats discusses effective writing techniques, particularly focusing on three key rules that can enhance clarity and impact in writing for both non-native and native English speakers.  
  
### Main Topic  
The main theme of the talk is to improve writing quality through the use of simplified language, emphasizing the power of clear and concise expression.  
  
### Key Points  
- **Diminishing Returns in Language Learning**: Iryna reflects on her journey to improve her English, highlighting that after reaching a certain proficiency, further improvements can be challenging and less rewarding.  
- **Discovery of "The Elements of Style"**: This foundational writing book remains relevant, presenting rules that can enhance writing clarity and effectiveness.  
- **Three Principles of Effective Writing**: Iryna proposes focusing on:  
    - **Short Words**: Choose simpler alternatives for complex words to enhance understanding. Examples include using 'use' instead of 'utilize' and 'start' instead of 'initiate'.  
    - **Short Sentences**: Aim for concise sentences by eliminating unnecessary words. She compares longer sentence constructions with their shorter alternatives to illustrate clarity. E.g., simplifying "John, who is a senior engineer..." to "John, our senior engineer, says..."  
    - **Short Paragraphs**: Break text into manageable pieces. This improves readability and prevents overwhelming the reader. Iryna advocates for spacing between paragraphs and utilizing single-sentence emails where appropriate.  
- **Examples from Literature**: She references William Shakespeare and Mark Twain to illustrate that impactful writing does not require complex vocabulary, reinforcing the effectiveness of simplicity.  
- **Practical Tips**: Iryna emphasizes the use of concise email communication, demonstrating that including the main message in the subject line can enhance clarity and respond effectively. Closing emails with 'YOM' (End of Message) signals recipients that no response is needed.  
  
### Conclusions and Takeaways  
Iryna encourages writers to embrace simplicity—using short words, sentences, and paragraphs—to convey their messages effectively. While she acknowledges there are various strategies to enhance writing, these three rules serve as foundational practices that can lead to significant improvements. The talk concludes with an invitation for the audience to explore these writing techniques further.

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