Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Business Style
Use plain, precise and familiar language to get to the point,
prevent misunderstanding, and write with impact
Identify strategies for concise messaging
Develop a conversational and confident tone and adjust it to suit
a range of writing purposes, professional situations and
relationships
Plain Style
Use common words except for necessary technical terms
o Write to express, not impress
Use reasonable lengths
o (8 words = 100% comprehension; 15 words = 90%
Use active voice verbs
o The subject performs the action: bob selected the new
computers v. the new computers were selected by Bob)
Use personal pronouns
o I, you, we (use in moderation, except in formal reports)
Use unambiguous language
o It will never be ambiguous for the writer, but always to the
reader
Place the subject as close as possible to the verb
How To Be Concise
Consider:
o How long it takes to read
o How the choice of words affects coherence and readability
Use fewer words whenever fewer will do
Eliminate long lead-ins
o Start directly unless extreme politeness is required, delete
any opening phrases ending in that or because
E.g. do not say, I am writing this letter because
Or: As the director of operations, I am writing
to inform you that
Revise noun conversion
o Verbs converted into nouns (often by adding tion or ment
endings) lose their power.
o Focus shifts to the converted noun instead of the action
Cut wordy phrases
o Just one word will often do
E.g. At a rapid rate rapidly
Due to the fact that because
Eliminate redundancies
CMN279 Notes Class 2