ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the analytical communication and provides guidance, formats, an explanation of writing for release, and checklists to support the analyst in achieving effective communication between collaborators/peers and end users. It discusses and advocates the development and use of writing standards or style guides for professional communications and intelligence production. If anything, because of the critical nature of analytical communication, it requires a more rigorous and rigid structure to ensure product standardization that reduces the chances misunderstanding and miscommunication. One must take the time to carefully plan and prepare analytical communication in order to satisfy production requirements and avoid needless confusion. In reference to analytical writing, that is authoritative and professional in nature, there is a common misconception that analytical products must be written in a verbose manner in order to come across as an expert in the field. Precision in analytical writing is analogous to hitting the bull's eye in marksmanship.
