Writing might not come naturally to you, but if you’re seeking a career in the business world, brushing up on this particular skill will pay off in the future. For many businesses, writing is one of the most important methods of communicating with clients, gaining traction, and inspiring employees. As a business professional, business writing skills are also important when it comes to drafting proposals, presentations, training materials, and memos. As a business student, the moment when you master the art of business writing, your ability to make connections and advance within the business world will be transformed.
Read on to discover six helpful business writing tips!
1. Remember the Purpose of Your Business Writing
Before even starting to write, it’s important to have the overarching purpose of your document in mind. Are you explaining something to your audience? Are you raising awareness about an issue? Are you seeking to advertise your services? Whatever the case, having a well-developed focus in mind before you begin writing will be important. After business training, your “why” will help you to maintain a well-structured piece of writing, while preventing you from getting off-topic during the writing process.
2. Keep it Simple
While it might seem counterintuitive, one of the most difficult aspects of business writing can be keeping your writing style short and sweet. Your audience is more likely to pay attention to what you have to say when your writing is straightforward and to the point. Concise writing is the best way to convey information to your readers and get your message across. While it can be tempting to use long sentences and lengthy descriptions, remember that in the business world— simpler writing is often better.
3. Proofread, Proofread, and then Proofread Some More
It cannot be emphasized enough that proofreading is a crucial step when writing any business document. Your audience may be quick to disregard the content of your writing if it contains mistakes, as errors often make the writer lose credibility. After finishing your piece of writing, proofread it a few times, checking for any misspellings, grammatical errors, or inaccurate information. You can also ask other students in your business courses to proofread for you! Often, it’s easier for someone else to spot your mistakes.
When writing a business document, be sure to proofread your work several times
4. Remember Your Audience
Just as it’s important to understand the purpose of what you’re writing, it’s also essential to establish who you’re appealing to with a particular piece of writing. Who is this information relevant to? Why should they care about what you’re saying? Brainstorming the answers to questions like these will help you to put yourself in the reader’s position and tailor your writing to their needs, backgrounds, and interests.
5. Leave the Jargon and Flowery Language Behind
In the same vein of simplicity, when writing a business document, it’s important to use as little flowery language and jargon as possible. Even though you might know the meaning of the technical terms and acronyms that you’re using, it’s likely that many of your readers won’t. While writing, check to see if you have any words or phrases that could be replaced with simpler language. This will not only make your piece of writing more concise, but it will also be easier for all readers to understand.
6. Use an Active Voice
Writing in a passive voice can make your sentences difficult to understand. When composing a business document, use an active voice to engage your reader and make your writing more straightforward. For example, instead of saying, “Six deals were closed by the salesman,” use the active voice to say “The salesman closed six deals.” Writing in an active voice will not only make your sentences shorter but also more convincing.
Graduates of business programs will benefit from having excellent business writing skills. Use these tips the next time you sit down to craft a document!
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