7 easy tips to improve your business writing skills

Writing for a business audience calls for a certain style of writing, which you can pick up and start using quite easily.

Here are some of the best tips to help you develop those skills and get ahead in the office.

1. Use your subject line well

Emails are a common form of communication in the workplace, and that means that you’ll be using it a lot. Take advantage of that subject line, and use it to ensure that readers open your email.

A good way of doing this is to be specific. For example, rather than writing “Event This Saturday”, you can write “How To Be An Entrepreneur: Free Talk This Saturday, 2pm”.

2. Keep it short

Like you, everyone you write to has only a limited amount of time to read any messages you send them. If you’re writing long messages, then they may not get to the end and find what you really need from them.

“The best thing to do is to keep your message as short as possible,” says business writing expert Jonathan Thorne from Oxessays. “Get to the point right away, and tell them exactly what they need to know.”

3. Write for ‘scanners’

‘Scanners’ are people that scan over a piece of content, looking for the information that they need. That means that the more well ordered your content is, the easier they’ll find it to use. Order your content well by using subheadings and bullet points, which will point out all the information you’re including in your message.

4. Make your writing energetic

You take care to come across as professional and interesting in person, so you should do so in writing too. You want to make your writing snappy, without resorting to exclamation points. A good way to do this is to ensure you’re using active verbs, as they bring the energy up.

For example, change passive sentences like “The matter will be taken forward by Jack”, to “Jack will take the matter forward.”  

5. Watch your tone

Your tone, no matter how you’re communicating, is vitally important. This is especially true in business writing as the reader doesn’t have other clues, such as body language, to go on. When you’re writing, be aware of the tone you’re using.

The best way to get it right is to write as you talk. If you’re still not sure, ask someone you trust to read your message and ask how you come across in it.

6. Use online writing tools

Developers have been creating online tools that assist with writing, making the process much easier. Try some of these tools to help you out:

• UK Writings and Grammarly: These services can help you improve your grammar.
• State Of Writing: The writing guides here can cover all kinds of issues you may be having.
• Boomessays: Sites like these can help you find writing communities and guides.
• Cite It In: Get the right citation for any source you use with this tool.
• Essayroo: This service can help you with proofreading.
• Via Writing: This writing blog is full of helpful advice.
• Bibme: This tool helps you check that writing isn’t plagiarised.

7. Always proofread and edit

Finally, you must always proofread and edit anything you write. You may think that quick email doesn’t need checking, but it’s amazing how many mistakes you can make in a simple message. Take the time to look through your messages before you send them, and you’ll look much more professional.

These tips lay down the basics of good business writing. Put them to use now, and you’ll see a difference in your writing right away.

Mary Walton is an editor at Academized, website for academics. She has a blog – SimpleGrad (read her Best Essay Writing Services post there). Also, Mary helps students improve writing skills and tutors at PaperFellows, educational service.