Effective business writing

1. Why good writing matters

Introduction

The communication revolution

Put it in writing to

A key business skill

How to improve your writing

Summary

2. What is plain English?

A short history

Short, everyday words

Concrete words

Using verbs, not nouns

Active, not passive verbs

Avoiding jargon

Avoiding clichés

Avoiding gobbledygook

Culling out words you don't need

Short sentences

Summary

3. Basic tools

Vocabulary

Spelling

Punctuation

Grammar

Summary

4. The four golden rules

Introduction

The purpose

The subject

The reader

Clarity and concision

Summary

5. Planning and preparation

The four golden rules in practice

Deciding what information you need

Collecting and sorting the information

Structure and order

Summary

6. Style

Elements of style

Write in the same style as you speak?

Tone

Summary

7. Presentation

Introduction

Consistency

Headings

White space

Bullets

Bold

Summary

8. The Writing process

Before you begin

Allocating time

Order of writing

Things to remember

Summary

9. Checking, re-writing and testing

Checking

Re-writing

Two final tests

Summary

10. Letters

Letters

Example

11. Emails

Emails

Examples

12. Memos and briefing notes

Memos and briefing notes

Examples

13. Notes and minutes of meetings

Notes and minutes of meetings

Agenda example

Minutes of meeting example

14. Reports

Reports

Examples

15. Summaries

Summaries

16. Business proposals

Business proposals

17. CVs

CVs

Examples

18. Speeches

Speeches

Speechwriting check list

19. Press releases

Press releases

Press release example

20. Internal and external communications

Internal and external communications

Example

21. Web pages

Web pages

Example

22. Further reading

Further reading

Index