IT English skills: the reason why some developers get more done

It takes less than a minute to write a message. Yet a single vague update on Slack or Teams can cost hours of work.

It’s like a domino effect. A developer sends a quick message before logging off. Across the world, a colleague in a different time zone logs on and replies with a question for clarification. Because of the time difference, they have to wait another full day for an answer. The project sits for twenty-four hours more.

A simple message can result in follow-up messages, unnecessary meetings and reopened tickets. A ticket remains unresolved for days just because no one is completely sure what is being asked, or who is responsible for responding.

For companies working in multiple locations and time zones, these communication breakdowns can turn into lost productivity and missed deadlines. Many leaders assume the cause is management issues or that they need to improve the ticketing system. In reality, this cycle of delays and wasted hours is often a language problem. Your developers don’t need to build their engineering expertise – they need to build specific IT English skills to express complex technical information clearly across a screen.

What’s actually going wrong in your asynchronous messages?

Communication breakdowns generally are because of problems with structure and intent. Analysing an unclear message shows four common issues:

1. Missing context

Technical messages frequently skip essential information. Developers often explain the immediate issue – the ‘what’ – without explaining the ‘why’. Colleagues need to understand not only the task, but also the reason behind it, to take effective action. Without context, even a simple request can generate a chain of clarification messages.

2. Hidden calls to action

It’s common for developers to write detailed explanations, only to hide the actual request at the very end of the message. Busy colleagues may skim and not realise that a decision, response or action is required. Make it easy to identify the required action so that faster action can be taken.

3. Vague language

Many professionals rely on vague wording instead of precise technical terminology, leaving too much room for interpretation. Without the precise English for software developers, updates confuse global colleagues. Clear, specific language reduces ambiguity.

4. No clear owner or timeline

A surprising number of delays occur simply because responsibility is not assigned. When a request is posted in a shared Slack channel without tagging a specific person or setting a clear deadline, team members may assume someone else is taking action. The result: important tasks remain unresolved for days.

The next time a message receives no response, let’s ask: are colleagues ignoring the request, or are they unsure what is expected of them?

It’s vital to recognise that none of these problems are from a lack of technical expertise. In most cases, it’s because information is not structured clearly enough for busy colleagues to process quickly. This is exactly where targeted English for IT professionals becomes a valuable business skill.

Five principles of clear asynchronous writing in IT English

The good news is that clearer asynchronous communication generally requires small changes in how messages are structured. When global teams master targeted IT English, small changes in message layout can completely reduce misunderstandings and unnecessary follow-up conversations.

Here are five practical principles to apply to any daily workspace message:

1. Lead with context, not details

Many messages begin with data or technical details before explaining why that information actually matters. As a result, readers have to guess the purpose of the message. A reader should know why a message is in their inbox within the first sentence.

Instead of: ‘I’m updating the database user permissions today.’

Try: ‘I’m updating database permissions today to follow the new security policy. Please log out and back in after 15:00 BST to refresh your access.’

By providing context, teams can understand both the task and its importance without needing additional clarification.

2. Use precise language

Avoid vague descriptions. General statements often create uncertainty, especially in global teams where colleagues may interpret the same phrase differently. When possible, use objective and exact technical data.

Instead of: ‘The build is slow.’

Try: ‘The staging build is averaging 14 minutes, up from 6 minutes last week.’

Specific language reduces ambiguity and helps teams make decisions more quickly. This is one area where targeted English for IT professionals can have an immediate impact on daily productivity.

3. Make action items scannable

Busy professionals often scan messages rather than reading every single word. Clear action items make it easier to understand what needs to happen next. Use bold tags, numbers and bullet points to help busy colleagues identify priorities quickly. This will reduce delays caused by uncertainty.

Instead of: ‘I’ve uploaded the new API documentation for the project. Let me know your thoughts whenever you have a minute.’

Try:

Action required:

1. Review the attached API document.
2. Confirm if the endpoints match your database schema.
3. Reply with your approval by Thursday at 16:00 BST.

4. Practise strict thread discipline

Long message threads can quickly become difficult to follow. Important decisions become lost, and team members joining later may find it difficult to understand the discussion.

Professionals should be trained to:

• link directly to previous decisions
• summarise key points before continuing a long thread
• clearly state what specific problem is still unresolved
• evaluate when a complex discussion needs a brief meeting, or when it’s possible to conclude with a message.

A short summary can save global colleagues from reading endless messages to find the information they need.

5. Close discussions with decision summaries

One of the most overlooked communication skills is knowing how to conclude a text discussion clearly so that it stays closed. A formal and clear decision summary prevents discussions from reopening unnecessarily, and ensures everyone understands the next steps.

Instead of: ‘Sounds good. Let’s move forward.’

Try:

Decision summary:

• The team will proceed with option B.
• Sarah will make the changes.
• Testing will finish by Friday morning.

Clear asynchronous communication drives productivity

Professionals who communicate clearly rarely need an unscheduled call to explain what they mean. Since their messages are easy to follow, they get approved faster. As a result, projects move forward more quickly and teams spend less time looking for clarification.

Clear communication also leads to greater autonomy. Team members are able to make decisions, solve problems and collaborate effectively without constant supervision or repeated, frequent interruptions.

Consider your company. When people need a decision documented clearly in writing, who do they ask? Who writes the project update that everyone understands and that never requires a follow-up phone call?

Strong IT English skills enable professionals to master the habits that keep remote operations running smoothly.

The skill behind faster decisions

Writing effectively in English within a technical context is a skill that can be built systematically. Clear communication is a practical tool that directly affects how efficiently global engineering teams work together.

Before sending your next Slack message, take a moment to reflect. Have you explained why the message matters, before going into the details? Is the required action immediately clear? Could a colleague in another time zone understand what needs to happen next?

For international organisations, clear messages means decisions are made faster, fewer follow-up conversations are needed, and teams spend more time focused on development work.

Targeted IT English training can help professionals in building these communication skills.
Book a demo to transform your team’s written messages into an absolute competitive advantage.