The Importance of Writing Clearly for Business

Creating written documents reveals so much about you and your business skills. Your writing tells the reader about your educational background, pride in your work and business expertise. The emergence of the paperless office, e-mail, the internet and web pages only increases the power of the written word. Any company with employees who can write clearly and concisely has a competitive edge over others who are still struggling to communicate.

Is your correspondence free of any errors? In this day of computers with spell and grammar check, it is so easy to let your writing skills lapse. The computer scans the correct spelling of a word, but it is a homonym with the wrong meaning for your sentence. This error shows the reader that either you don't know the difference or you're too lazy to check and edit.

Is your writing full of words that people don't understand? Many times, you are so rushed to compose a business document that you use easy methods to get it done. The result is business documents are often filled with buzzwords, cryptic dialogue and outdated phrases. Readers won't say that they don't understand what you are writing, but will note not to use your business services. Keep your writing simple and current. Writing styles are like fashion and have indeed changed over the years. You must keep up with today's business practices and expectations, but beware of certain crutches such as buzzwords, industry jargon and cliches. Buzzwords are trendy terms and expressions that sometimes mean nothing, but seem impressive. "Like fertilizer, buzzwords are spread generously over documents in hope that brilliant ideas will miraculously take root. Unfortunately, ideas don't grow in manure," describes Will Stockdell, a professional Internet writer. You want to make sure that everyone understands your written ideas.

The last thing you want to do is to give the impression that your writing is too formal or outdated. A more direct way of writing has replaced some standard business phrases. Examples of this are "As per your request" now becomes "As you requested" or "Enclosed please find " now becomes "I am enclosing." Also, the previous impersonal style of business writing that avoided the use of "I" has been changed to use a limited amount of "I" to give directness and warmth.

How often have you typed away what you wanted to say, rather than what you needed to write? Slipping into abbreviated dialogue is so easy to do instead of expressing complete thoughts in a sentence. Perhaps, because we are a telephone-oriented society, the keyboard simply becomes an extension of our phone voice and frequently incomplete phrases dominate a message. Readers may think that this writing also indicates your incomplete logic and business services.

Do you use correct English? As far as incorrect punctuation, awkward sentences and bad grammar, you need to examine your writing skills and take these steps to improve them:

1. Audit your business writing yourself and try to learn from your mistakes. Use your computer grammar tools, but double-check with a dictionary or grammar book.

2. Find someone who can edit your material.

3. Hire employees for writing skills. In this way, you will have someone around to edit or write material for you.

4. Read. Reading will improve your writing skills. Keep on hand business documents that you admire.

5. Practice. Don't just pick up the phone to communicate; get in the habit of expressing your ideas in letters or e-mail.

6. Seek professional resources. Consult books like Gloria Pincu's Bull's Eye Business Writing: 10 Easy Guides for Getting to Your Writing Target. Search the Internet. Seek training courses.

See my web site for information about my online courses at: www.basic-learning.com)

Gloria Pincu is founder of Basic Learning Systems, Inc., a management training and consulting organization. As a consultant/trainer, Ms. Pincu has drawn heavily on her own business experience as well as from the academic world. She has been an entrepreneur, a sales manager, a computer salesperson, a teacher of writing, communication skills and English, and a consultant /training specialist to corporations, hospitals, government, and educational organizations.

Since founding Basic Learning Systems, Inc., a Certified Minority Business Enterprise, in 1980, Gloria has facilitated many hundreds of training programs. She has designed and conducted programs on topics covering customer service, total quality management, supervisory skills, business and technical writing, managing change, interpersonal skills, team building, creative thinking, stress management, and professional secretary techniques for numerous organizations including Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, IBM Corporation, American Express, National Council on Compensation Insurance, Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., the Florida Department o

Indian Head Park taxi to Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

---

A Simple Contest with a Strong Message: Wake Up Your Writing Spirit

The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for... Read More

The Prologue - When to Use One, How to Write One

What is a prologue? When should you use one? Should... Read More

Editing for Perfection ? The Personal Statement

This article contains a short guide on how to edit... Read More

Common Writing Mistakes

Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More

Open a Vein

If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More

Editing Secrets

Once you've plotted out your book, developed the characters and... Read More

Idea Mining for Writers 101

Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More

How To Stay Fit While Writing

Day after day, writers tend to sit for hours writing... Read More

The Value of Adding Images to Technical Documentation

It's clich?, but true-a picture does paint a thousand words.... Read More

Learn to Talk on Paper: The Art of Effective Business Writing

Rudolf Flesch, a specialist in writing skills, ran classes... Read More

Writing Short Info Reports

People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short... Read More

A Writers Tools

William Faulkner, the great Mississippi writer, said, "The tools I... Read More

Screenwriting, Screenplays, Screenwriters ? Incremental Productivity

When attempting to understand Creativity and Innovation, it pays to... Read More

Get Noticed! Eight Tips to Catching an Editors Eye

The first five pages of a novel are critical.Editors make... Read More

Teachers Should Write, During Their Summers

Before I became a teacher, I was a sports writer.... Read More

Basic Word Processing Tips for Writers

Word processors are so widely used now that I tend... Read More

Understanding The First Rule Of Writing ? Before You Start The Great American Book

Chaos and confusion come when established rules and procedures are... Read More

Story Building with Imagination

In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More

Six Tips for Submitting Fiction - if you want it to get published

You can learn a lot about what it takes to... Read More

Be Your Own Literary Agent and Get Published

So you're one of 20 million Americans who want to... Read More

Freelance Feast or Famine?

Sometimes a freelance writing career can feel very much like... Read More

Become an Instant Author by Playing Well with Others

You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More

The Unwritten World Of The Reality Of Letterwriting

You may wonder why I have chosen this title of... Read More

Tips For Better Writing

It is certainly true that we don't get a second... Read More

5 Ways to Break the Story Spell

You sink back into your favourite chair with a new... Read More

Bonnie Chicago charter limousine ..