Look back at the opening story about Sarah. I buried my own lede a bit—the anecdote was a setup before defining the term. That’s okay for a blog post; we have room to play. But in a business email or a news report? Zero room.
The irony is real: learning the term “burying the lede” makes you hyper-aware of everyone else doing it. You’ll start noticing it in TV news, in your boss’s emails, in your own texts. “Why did I lead with ‘how are you’ instead of ‘I need that report by noon’?”
It’s a small skill that changes how you communicate. Suddenly, you become the person who says, “Let me cut to the chase.” And people love that person. They’re refreshing. They’re clear.
One Last Warning: Don’t Overcorrect
Please don’t become that robot who starts every conversation with “I have bad news” before you’ve even sat down. Context still matters. There’s a difference between being direct and being brutal.
If you’re telling a funny story, the buildup can be half the fun. The “bury” isn’t always a sin—it’s a problem when you unknowingly hide the important information from someone who needs it now.
So next time you draft a text or a speech, pause. Read your first line. Does it contain the actual point? If not, delete everything before it. Your readers—and your future self—will thank you.
