Writing should have a point, a reason that you're producing the written product and a reason that your audience is reading the written product. So make your message clear, and put it up front.

It's tempting not to make a strong message, it's true. Politeness, doubt in your position (especially when speaking to a superior), and concern that your information is week, can all lead you, or any writer, to endless prevarication. The result? Your audience reads your entire written product and is not quite sure what to take away -- a waste of time for both of you!

If you're unsure of your conclusions, you have a few choices:

• Don't write what you're writing. If it's not worth saying, save everybody some time and don't say it
• Make it clear what your concerns are, up front. For instance, "Developing the widget product will give our company the opportunity to dramatically increase our sales; however, it is unclear if we know how to successfully mass-produce widgets or design a widget that will be prized by the market." Then, return to the concerns and points that you make in your lead throughout your written product: "As mentioned, there is concern that we will be unable to design a widget to the market's needs. This concern is based on..."

See, no need to be unclear or hide what you have to say!