top ten list
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A handy list of important reminders when writing business communications.TRANSCRIPT
Business Writing: Key Elements in Being Effective
This list brought to you by all of these wonderful people.
Ransford Mollison Clinton CodyDeanna Turner Ben MonroeDeborah York Wade MyersLester Relyea Ryan IversAnna Dewine TheresaLavern FosterAnyury Arciniegas Melanie LongMisty ScottBetty WebbHarriett LawsRosanna Davis
Be concise. Don’t waste the reader’s time.
Use good organizationProper structureKeep your overall message brief and
to the point
Understand the reader’s expectations
Identify with the reader Write at the receiver’s level
Key ideas or information is firstDo not make the reader wait for the
call to actionBe direct
StyleToneDesignLayout
Detail, Analysis, and BackgroundAvoid ExcessFormat short and effective
paragraphsUse headings and subheadings for
flowKeep it simple NO JARGON
READING IS:
Intellectual An Exercize A Skill Time-intensive Result of a decision Controlled, systematic
DO:
Use active words such as
He Ran vs. He has been running
Use clear and easy access to the information
SEEING IS:
Emotional Effortless An Instinct Immediate Nearly Unavoidable Spontaneous and
Simultaneous
DO:
Grab the reader’s attention
Design to keep the reader engaged
Use graphics to aid in giving facts and figures
Know your subject matterDo your homeworkDo give the reader an overviewMaintain purpose and reason for
your writingAlways cite your sources
PunctuationGrammarSpelling
WriteReview, read aloudWait a day and do it again If possible, have someone else read
or listen to you read the paperCut excess and make revisions
Flood, Timothy E. (2008) Business WritingKaplan Publishing
Thomas, Evan (Sept. 2006) Newsweek Video