For many of my clients, business writing means a dull, tedious, and time-consuming struggle they have to complete.
The business writing that often comes to mind is probably business plans, sales materials, advertising, reports, and email.
However, the definition of what is business writing reads, “the communication of ideas, information, directions or instructions between at least two people that focuses on the reader and the purpose of the communication.”
Over the years, I found that business writing is simply communication between two people. It is me communicating to you in a direct, simple, and purposeful way.
How is business writing different?
Business writing is different because it is straightforward.
According to Ohio University, a Princeton University study, “Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly,” found that undergraduates use more complex words in papers to sound more intelligent. However, according to researchers, this strategy achieves the opposite effect.
Think about it for a moment; long words tend to bog the mind down. You stop to think about that one word. When you do, you can lose the meaning of the overall message intent.
The first tip to becoming a better business writer is to “write to express, not to impress.” Business writing is different because it’s concise.
Throw out the English term paper or MBA Thesis language. Instead, express yourself clearly, simply, and directly, and you will communicate better to your business reader.
Your business writing style
When you talk to someone, how do you convey ideas?
Do you labor on about details? Do you intentionally use complex words to impress?
I’m sure you don’t. But, more than likely, you concisely present your ideas, add your personality and flair, bring emotion and conviction into play, and clearly and concisely express your point of view.
Now, take that same principle and apply it to your business writing.
One of the easiest ways to improve your writing (and make business writing enjoyable) is to write the same way you talk. However, instead of talking, put your idea on paper.
If you’re a strong typist, key it into a word processing document.
If you’re not a great typist, use a legal pad and write your ideas down. Then add your written words into a word processing document after the fact.
You can even record your ideas as you speak them. Then, save the recording and turn it over to a transcription service to create a word processing document you can edit and use in your written communication.
You can find reasonably priced transcription services on Fiverr and other freelancing websites.
While it will take practice to build confidence as you develop your unique writing style, the quickest path is to write the same way you talk. Express ideas as if you were talking to a trusted colleague.
When you do, the businesspeople you communicate with will give you their trust because your business writing feels authentic, and authenticity is the quickest path to trust and credibility building.
How to build confidence in your business writing
As you get started, business writing may seem like a burdensome chore. You’ll stare at a blank page. You likely won’t know what to write.
Here’s how to overcome writer’s block and get your ideas down efficiently.
Start with one sentence. What is the topic of the information you are going to communicate?
Under that, jot down 3 to 5 sub-points about your topic.
Inside of the 3 to 5 sub-points, jot down 3 points you’ll discuss in each idea.
Now you have an outline. All you need to do is fill in the blanks to create your written communication.
Remember to write the same way you talk.
Realize that when you start to commit your thoughts to paper, you’ll be worried about grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and other things you learned through your educational system.
At this early stage, don’t think about writing mechanics. I’ll show you a powerful tool that will take away all your technical writing worries in a moment.
The only way to become is a better writer is to write – commit words to paper. Once you have your thoughts on paper, it’s time to polish your writing.
The most powerful tool I’ve found for editing is called Grammarly. It is your AI-powered writing assistant.
With 20 million people using the tool, it is proven to work well. Grammarly will correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, plus writing style and tone.
Grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself in email and messages, documents and projects, and even social media.
Grammarly is free to use and works with the Chrome browser. It gives you confidence and helps you overcome worry about perfect writing.
Now you can write the same way you talk. Then let Grammarly correct errors and improve your writing.
Keep your writing simple and be specific.
Ohio University Center for Professional Communication published a helpful PowerPoint presentation with ideas for business writers.
In it, they noted that style is how you express an idea. It is not the substance of the concept. Instead, the style consists of words the writer uses and how the writer combines those words into sentences, paragraphs, and complete messages.
In the first draft, they suggested that you don’t worry about style but focus on content instead.
I found a great way to do that is to outline the idea, as we talked about earlier, then write by filling in the blanks of the outline you created. In other words, “talk” on paper, get the idea out of your head and into written form.
Then make revisions where you focus on the style. Here is where you’ll use Grammarly to make revisions stress-free and even enjoyable.
Here’s how you can stay focused on the essential elements of business writing.
Seek to express rather than to impress. Remember, complex words tend to bog the mind down and minimize engagement with your message.
Write clearly and concisely. Be accurate and complete and use familiar words.
Use more straightforward language and sentence structure. Eliminate wordiness and keep your writing simple and direct.
Use active voice and recommend action in your written business communication. Avoid using we believe, we think, we imagine – Grammarly will help you here.
Convey an appropriate tone. Be courteous and sincere and use positive language.
The shortest path to becoming an accomplished business writer
Remember, business writing is simply communication to a reader. When you write the same way you talk, you are communicating effectively with another person.
However, when you write as you learned through education, your business writing becomes stiff, boring, and ineffective.
Keep your business writing clear, concise, and straightforward to make it easier to understand to build trust and credibility.
Don’t stress about the mechanics of writing. Instead, use AI-powered Grammarly to ensure your written communication is compelling and error-free.
What have you struggled with most in your business writing? I’ll be happy to answer questions or provide ideas that can help.
Leave a comment below with any questions.
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