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Subtext

A phrasebook for what work actually means.

IM2026 · personal entry

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What it means - spelled out plainly, not a paraphrase

Why we can say this (the evidence)

Subtext rests on a few well-supported ideas. We would rather show our working than ask you to take our word for it.

Miscommunication is a two-way gap, not one person's fault. People who share a communication style pass information about equally well; it is the mismatch between styles that loses meaning (Crompton and colleagues, 2020; Milton, 2022). That is why Subtext works in both directions.
People are judged on delivery, not just content. The same message is received more warmly when the reader does not have to work through the style around it (Sasson and colleagues, 2017).
Plain, structured language helps everyone and helps most the people carrying the heaviest decoding load, like new starters, staff who speak English as a second language, and neurodivergent staff (Kerwer and colleagues, 2021; Nielsen Norman Group). It is also what the Australian Government Style Manual asks for.

What we are careful about. A subtext reading is a possibility, not a fact, so we flag its confidence and nudge you to check with the person. The neurodivergent-first case is strongest for autistic communication; the ADHD and second-language angles are reasonable but less proven, and we say so rather than overclaim.

Nothing you type is stored or logged. Use public, synthetic or authorised information only - no classified, sensitive or personal data. A personal entry for Innovation Month 2026. Not an official tool.