In health communication, using positive language can significantly impact how medical information is perceived and understood.
Do you ever find yourself rereading your work and feeling a bit deflated?
Maybe your sentences lack enthusiasm, or your tone feels a little critical.
It’s common for medical writers to struggle with crafting positive and engaging content, especially when writing about serious medical topics.
But there are ways to make your writing feel more positive – even when the topic feels overly negative.
What is positive language in health communication?
There are several key principles for positive writing:
- Reframing a message – looking for the positive side of your writing and your message
- Using positive language – choosing inclusive health communication and language that uplifts and inspires
- Adopting a solutions-oriented approach – focusing on “how to” instead of “what’s wrong”
- Fostering a positive writing mindset – actively removing negativity from your creative process.
Here’s how these principles work in practice with six examples.
From challenging to uplifting: Parkinson’s Disease
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| Parkinson’s disease is a serious illness with debilitating symptoms that get progressively worse over time. The disease can affect your ability to walk, talk and eat.
It can also impact your ability to complete simple, everyday tasks like shopping. As the disease progresses, you may no longer be able to manage your medications, pay your bills or take care of your pets. |
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects movement and can change over time.
While some people experience worsening symptoms, many manage the disease effectively for years. Parkinson’s can impact daily activities, but with treatment and support, people can often find ways to stay active and engaged in life. This might include using helpful tools and strategies for tasks like walking, talking and eating. As the disease progresses, you can explore additional support systems to ensure continued independence for as long as possible. |
Positive language adjustments
- Focused on management – used “can change over time” and emphasised management instead of “progressively worse”
- Highlighted positive outcomes – mentioned people who manage the disease well and the possibility of staying active
- Focused on solutions – introduced the idea of tools, strategies and support systems to maintain independence
- Used a positive tone – the overall tone is more hopeful and empowering
From
negative to positive language: Diabetes
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| If you have diabetes, you might feel constantly thirsty, have blurry vision and experience unexplained weight loss.
Managing daily activities can become a challenge due to fatigue. |
With a healthy diet, regular exercise and medication if needed, you can achieve better blood sugar control.
This can improve your energy levels, reduce thirst and blurry vision and help you maintain a healthy weight. By managing your diabetes, you’ll feel empowered to participate in activities you enjoy and experience a renewed sense of wellbeing. |
Positive language adjustments
- Focused on management – introduced “better blood sugar control” emphasising management through diet, exercise and medication
- Highlighted positive outcomes – mentioned regaining energy and participating in activities you enjoy
- Focused on solutions – introduced healthy diet and exercise as solutions for managing diabetes
- Used a positive tone – the overall tone is more hopeful, highlighting the ability to feel good and live an active life
From distressing to uplifting: Depression
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| You might feel a persistent low mood, lose interest in things you once enjoyed, and experience changes in sleep or appetite.
It can be difficult to motivate yourself to complete daily tasks. |
Sometimes, even the most vibrant colours can seem a little dull.
You might notice a shift in your usual mood or a decrease in the activities that used to bring you joy. Your sleep patterns or appetite could also change slightly. |
Improvements through positive language
- Replaced negative words – replaced “low mood” with “shift in usual mood” and “lose interest” with “activities that used to bring you joy”
- Reduced emphasis on negativity – avoided dwelling on all the symptoms at once
- Focused on temporary changes – used words like “shift” and “slightly” to suggest impermanence
From bleak to bright: Asthma
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| You might experience frequent coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, especially after exercise or exposure to triggers.
These symptoms can limit your ability to be active and enjoy the outdoors. |
Your lungs are a remarkable system, and sometimes they need a little extra care to keep them working at their best.
You might experience a cough, wheezing or a feeling of tightness in your chest, especially after exercise or encountering certain triggers. With proper management strategies, you can keep your airways healthy and enjoy all the activities you love, including exploring the outdoors. |
Improvements through positive language
- Used positive framing – highlighted the importance of lung health and framed the symptoms as a sign that the lungs need extra care
- Reduced negativity – replaced “frequent” with “experience” and avoided dwelling on all four symptoms, focusing on “a cough, wheezing, or a feeling of tightness”
- Focused on solutions – introduced “proper management strategies” and emphasised the ability to enjoy activities freely
- Used actionable language – used the word “you can” to empower the reader
From limiting to liberating: Arthritis
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| Joint pain and stiffness can make everyday movements like climbing stairs or reaching for objects difficult.
This can lead to frustration and a decrease in physical activity. |
Maintaining joint health is important for keeping your body moving with ease.
Sometimes, you might experience a slight stiffness that can make reaching for objects or climbing stairs feel a bit different. |
Key enhancements in positive language
- Focused on maintaining health – framed the topic around maintaining joint health, a proactive approach
- Minimised negativity – avoided words like “pain” and “difficult” and used “stiffness” and “feel a bit different” instead
- Highlighted adaptability – suggested that movements might feel “a bit different” instead of labelling them as impossible
From gloomy to optimistic: Anxiety
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| You might experience excessive worry, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating and physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat and sweating.
These anxieties can disrupt your daily life and relationships. |
Sometimes, even the calmest minds can experience periods of heightened activity.
You might notice a surge of energy or an increase in focus on certain thoughts. These feelings can sometimes be accompanied by physical sensations like a faster heartbeat or increased alertness. If you find these experiences impacting your daily life or relationships, there are many helpful tools and techniques to manage them effectively. |
Key enhancements in positive language
- Used positive framing – replaced “excessive worry” with “heightened activity” and “racing thoughts” with “increased focus on certain thoughts”
- Reduced negativity – removed “difficulty concentrating” and avoided dwelling on physical symptoms
- Focused on solutions – acknowledged the potential impact and offered a solution-oriented approach with “helpful tools and techniques”
These changes exemplify positive language in health communication by emphasising empowerment and management.
