Business Writing Tips e-newsletter : July 2008
Edit carefully to produce concise text
Reread your text and delete unnecessary words.
Wordy
Consultants who have strategic partners
they can align themselves with can generate leads
that come from different industries.
Concise
Consultants aligned with strategic partners can
generate leads from different industries.
For PowerPoint slides, use short phrases
Instead of longer sentences, write shorter phrases
that summarize your talking points.
Sentence with too much text
We will need 50 account reps to service our clients in
the southeast region.
Brief talking point
50 account reps for southeast clients
Grammar tip: don't use however as conjunction
Wrong
Steve has improved his management skills,
however he still needs to better understand
our new products.
Right: two sentences
Steve has improved his management skills.
However, he still needs to better understand
our new products.
Right: one sentence
Steve has improved his management skills,
but he still needs to better understand our new
products.
News on Jack's book
Free chapter
Download a free chapter ("Grab readers' attention") of
10 Steps to Successful Business Writing. Go to
www.astd.org.
NJ college selects "10 Steps" for class
The Teaneck, New Jersey-based Fairleigh Dickinson
University has selected Jack's book for its graduate
level class, "Executive Communication and
Leadership."
One-minute video: Jack discusses book
Watch a 60-second video of Jack explaining how his
book helps people write more productively. Go to
www.sgwriting.com.
Insurance editor lauds "10 Steps"
Sam Friedman, insurance industry veteran and editor
of National Underwriter, recommended Jack's book in
his July 3 blog. Go to
www.property-casualty.com.