Career & Communication · 55 sec
Use BLUF to Write Clearer Emails
Put the Bottom Line Up Front, then provide the explanation.
The useful idea
- Lead with purpose
Open with the decision, request, conclusion, or action the reader needs to understand.
- Add the essentials
Follow with the minimum context, evidence, timing, and ownership needed to act confidently.
- Make scanning easy
Use short paragraphs and a clear subject line so the reader can grasp the message in one pass.
Why this matters
Readers can respond faster when they do not have to search the email for its purpose.
Try this
Rewrite your next email’s first sentence as the decision or request you need.
Test your recall
What belongs at the start of a BLUF email?
- The main decision or request — correct
- The full backstory
- A long greeting
BLUF puts the message’s practical bottom line first.