7C
Updated 2026-08-08
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
The seven Cs are a checklist for written and spoken communication: clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete and courteous. The list rests on the idea that the receiver has limited attention and working memory, so every ambiguity or unnecessary word imposes a cognitive cost and invites a reply asking for clarification. Clarity and concision do the most work, while concreteness replaces vague phrasing with specifics, completeness prevents follow-up questions and courtesy protects the relationship. The standard is applied to a draft before it is sent, not after the reply arrives.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Run the checklist: after drafting, verify the message against each of the seven Cs. - Weight the heavy two: spend most of your effort on clarity and concision. - Replace vague words: swap abstractions for concrete numbers, names and specific situations.
Anchor fast decisions
The receiver's attention and working memory are limited, so anything unclear, verbose or vague is either misread or triggers a clarifying exchange. Clarity and concision lower the effort of decoding, while concrete detail removes the room for divergent interpretation. Coherence and completeness prevent the reader from having to infer missing links, and correctness protects credibility. Courtesy keeps the exchange open, so the reader stays willing to act on the message rather than reacting to its tone.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7Cverified
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