Mar05 Summary (C8 Business Writing Design)

The ability to write clearly and use the tools and formats appropriate to your audience will significantly increase your chance of moving up the corporate ladder. Writing is a communication channel that preserves over a period of time the details of an action, idea, or contact.

The writing process includes brainstorming and prewriting, gathering information, considering strategy, outlining and drafting, revising and editing, and proofreading. The best business writing style also uses positive expressions, reader benefits, active sentences, concrete language, and grammatically correct sentences.
Memos are primarily circulated internally within a business and contain one topic only. Letters can communicate requests, claims, adjustments, rejections, reports, sales information, and goodwill. Good business letter writing is almost lost art in our society today. With the speed of electronic mail, voice mail, and faxes, good letter writing has held less importance in daily business operations. A well-written letter that is personalized can do wonders for your key business relationships. Business correspondence does not have to be dry and tedious. In fact, the most effective business letters often touch on very personal matters, not just on money or the bottom line. There are basically two types of business letters: formal business letters and informal business letters. Examples of informal letters include congratulatory letters, complimentary letters, and requests for favors, thank you letters, and letters of encouragement. And formal business letters do not have to be all business. Business letters may include one or two personal sentences or even touch on a personal subject. How to improve our business writing skills? I think we will find what is most effective for us. In the meantime, consider taking classes in business letter writing to improve our ability to communicate effectively with others.

Memos and letters contain an introduction, a body, and a close that calls for action. However, E-mail messages are written communication and conform to the principles of written communication. They are usually very short.