BUSINESS WRITING TONE AND STYLE

1. BUSINESS WRITING TONE AND STYLE

2. AGENDA • Importance of Written Communications • Tone and Style • Rules of the Road

3. BUSINESS WRITING • Why am I writing this document? • Writing is Most Expensive Medium and Least Forgiving • Who am I writing to and What do I want them to Understand? • How will my Written Communication look on a Newspaper’s Front Page? • What do I want done?

4. BUSINESS WRITING • What Kind of Tone? • Confidence: Sound Knowledgeable, Prepared and Capable • Concise and To the Point • Appropriate Emphasis: First Paragraph; Underline; Say “Most Important” • Active not Passive Voice

5. BUSINESS WRITING Electronic Mail Messages (E-Mail) • In Business Setting, no different from (“Hard-Copy”) Letter or Memorandum • Customary Formatting and Style are Required • Technology and Legal Issues affect Privacy of E-Mail Messages

6. BUSINESS WRITING General Suggestions • No Excuse for Obvious Spelling, Punctuation or Grammar Errors: Use Program Support Functions • Don’t Use E-Mail for Personnel and Other Actions (Communicating Bad News) that might have Adverse Results

7. BUSINESS WRITING Summary • Purpose for Business Writing is to Report Facts, Analyze Information or Make Recommendations • Effective Business Writing is a Valuable Skill that can be Learned. Practice and a Mentor is Required.

8. BUSINESS WRITING Summary • Purpose for Business Writing is to Report Facts, Analyze Information or Make Recommendations • Effective Business Writing is a Valuable Skill that can be Learned. Practice and a Mentor is Required.