Top 10 Business Writing Tips

Top 10 Business Writing Tips Like life itself, writing can sometimes be messy, frustrating, and  hard. But you can make your working life a little easier by  editing  with these principles in mind. Its simple: Whether youre writing a two-line email or a 10-page report, anticipate the needs of your readers and remember the four Cs: Be clear, concise, considerate, and correct. Use these 10 quick tips to learn  how: 1. Adopt the you attitude. This means looking at a topic from the point of view of your readers, emphasizing what they want or need to know. Example: I have requested that your order be sent out today.Revision: You will receive your order by Wednesday. 2. Focus on the real subject. Dont bury a key word by dropping it into a phrase following a weak subject. Example: The implementation of the new marketing campaign will begin on June 1.Revision: The new marketing campaign will begin on June 1. 3. Write actively, not passively. Wherever its appropriate, put your subject up front and make it do something. The active voice generally works better than the passive because its more direct, more concise, and easier to understand. (But not always.) Example: Your proposal was reviewed at our meeting on April 1, and it was immediately submitted to the developers.Revision: We reviewed your proposal on April 1 and immediately submitted it to the developers. 4. Cut unnecessary words and phrases. Wordy expressions may distract readers, so cut the clutter. Example:  I am writing this note because I want to thank you very much for organizing the open house that was held last Thursday.Revision: Thank you very much for organizing last Thursdays open house. 5. But dont leave out key words. To be clear as well as concise, we sometimes need to add a word or two. Example: The storage shed is the first step.Revision: Unlocking the storage shed is the first step. 6. And dont forget your manners. Heres where being considerate comes in. If you say please and thank you when talking with colleagues, include those words in your emails as well. Example: Send me the jargon report before you head home.Revision: Please send me the jargon report before you head home. 7. Avoid outdated expressions. Unless you enjoy sounding stuffy in print, stay away from words and phrases that are never used in conversation- attached herewith, this is to advise you, as per your request. Example: Attached herewith for your reference is a duplicated version of the aforementioned deed.Revision: I have enclosed a copy of the deed. 8. Put a cap on the vogue words and buzzwords. Trendy expressions tend to wear out their welcome fast. Ditto for corporate jargon. Do your best to write like a  human. Example: At the end of the day the bottom line is that we should facilitate opportunities for employees to provide input on best practices.Revision: Lets encourage people to make suggestions. 9. Unstack your modifiers. Stacking means piling up modifiers before a noun- the verbal equivalent of a traffic jam. Long noun strings may save a word or two, but they may also puzzle your readers. Example: Space telescope wide-field planetary camera instrument definition team ground based charged-couple-device camera (from New Scientist, cited by Matthew Lindsay Stevens in Subtleties of Scientific Style, 2007)Revision: Huh? 10. And, of course, proofread. Finally, theres correctness: always make sure you  check your work,  no matter how good you think youve gotten at the other Cs. Example:: When youre in a hurry, its very easy to leave words.Revision: When youre in a hurry, its very easy to leave out words.

Reciprocation vs. Reciprocity

Reciprocation vs. Reciprocity Reciprocation vs. Reciprocity Reciprocation vs. Reciprocity By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between reciprocation and reciprocity? The distinction is fine but useful. Both reciprocation and reciprocity mean â€Å"an act of return or requiting†; when one reciprocates, one responds to an action or a gesture by doing the same thing or something equivalent in form or value. These words stem from the Latin term reciprocus; the verb form, reciprocare, means â€Å"move or turn back,† â€Å"rise and fall,† or â€Å"come and go, move back and forth.† Reciprocation stems directly from Latin, while reciprocity is derived from the intermediate French term rà ©ciprocità ©. The difference is that reciprocation connotes a more intimate, personal exchange, while reciprocity refers to a more formal situation, such as a political or social agreement or contract: When a person returns a favor, he or she engages in reciprocation; when two countries adhere to an agreement to exchange similar privileges or products, they are practicing reciprocity. The adjective reciprocal refers to complementary actions by two parties (or one such action), but the word is also a noun meaning â€Å"something reciprocal to something else,† including one of a pair of numbers that, when multiplied, produce a product of 1 (such as 4 and 1/4). The verb form is reciprocate, the adverbial form is reciprocally, and the adjectival form is reciprocating. (For example, a reciprocating saw is a powered saw with a blade that moves back and forth so that the operator need only hold the tool while the motor makes the saw do the work.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Bare or Bear With Me?Homogeneous vs. HeterogeneousPlurals of Proper Names