Wednesday, October 06, 2010

ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR WRITING ABILITY WILL AFFECT YOUR CAREER.
Where good business writing is concerned, there are, indeed, many roads to Damascus; more than one 'right way' of doing things. However, here are some guides to better writing of letters and documents:
1. Whatever your job, business, or ministry -- avoid using cliches and jargon.
2. Avoid hackneyed phrases, fad expressions, and "buzz words"..
3. Use short words, short sentences, short paragraphs, often. Only use long words, long sentences, long paragraphs, sparingly, and only when the effect is good.
4. Let your writing be lean, stark. Avoid fuzziness. 5. Let your writing be simple, brief, direct.
6. Avoid double passives. Use the active form of the verb whenever possible.
7. Select the basic, plain, English word most often. Seldom use words of Latin derivation.
8. Remember grammar is a tool, not an end in itself. So, avoid using pedantry for the sake of it.
9. Use the paragraph as a unit of meaning. Headings and point form often make reading easier, but do not overdo them.
10. Use block capitals and underlining sparingly, and only with good effect.
11. Remember that much of what you read is badly written. So you should consciously disinfect yourself from the same condition.
12. Almost everything you write can be improved by you yourself after the first written draft. Revise! Revise!

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