HBR guide to better business writing /
Harvard business review guide to better business writing Better business writing Engage readers tighten and brighten make your case
Bryan A. Garner.
- Boston, Mass. : Harvard Business Review Press, 2012.
- xx, 210 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.
- HBR guides .
- Harvard business review guides. .
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction: why you need to write well Delivering the goods quickly and clearly. Know why you're writing Understand your readers Divide the writing process into four separate tasks Before writing in earnest, jot down your three main points inc complete sentences Write in full rapidly Improve what you've written Use graphics to illustrate and clarify Developing your skills. Be relentlessly clear Learn to summarize accurately Waste no words Be plain-spoken: avoid bizspeak Use chronology when given a factual account Be a stickler for continuity Learn the basics of correct grammar Get feedback on you drafts from colleagues Avoiding the quirks that turn readers off. Don't anesthetize your reader Watch your tone Common forms of business writing. E-mails Business letters Memos and reports Performance appraisals Appendixes. A.A checklist for the four stages of writing B.A dozen grammatical rules you absolutely need to know C.A dozen punctuation rules you absolutely need to know D. Common usage gaffes E. Some dos and don't of business-writing etiquette F.A primer of good usage
When you're fumbling for words and pressed for time, you might be tempted to dismiss good business writing as a nicety. But it's a skill you must cultivate to succeed: You'll lose time, money, and influence if your e-mails, proposals and other important documents fail to win people over