Manager's Guide To Business Writing 2/E

by Sparks FitzGerald, Suzanne

• ISBN13: 9780071772266
• ISBN10: 007177226X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-11
• Publisher: McGraw Hill

Summary

Write every business correspondence with speed, precision, and power The number one prerequisite for effective management is effective communicationand writing is a critical part of it. Simply put, whether it's a quick e-mail or a 20-page report, your writing is a reflection of youand people will make judgments accordingly. Manager's Guide to Business Writing, Second Edition, provides everything you need to give colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders the most information accurately and quickly. Learn how to express yourself as a serious professional by writing everything with clarity, quality, and decisiveness. Manager's Guide to Business Writingteaches you how to: Know your audience and your purpose before you start writing Engage readers' curiosity from the first sentence Compose instructions that are easy to understand and follow Write effectively on social media platforms and blogs Master the foundations of effective writinggrammar, sentence structure, spelling, and style Briefcase Books, written specifically for today's busy manager, feature eye-catching icons, checklists, and sidebars to guide managers step-by-step through everyday workplace situations. Look for these innovative features to help you navigate each page: - Clear definitions of key terms and concepts - Tactics and strategies for applying writing skills to management issues - Tricks of the trade for crafting clear and effective documents - Examples of successful business writing - Cautions for when things can go wrong in composing memos, e-mails, and reports - Practical advice for avoiding common errors - Specific procedures for planning and executing your writing on the job

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Write for Your Readers	p. 1
Know Your Readers	p. 2
What If You Don't Know Your Readers?	p. 3
Check for Readability	p. 9
Write from the Reader's Perspective	p. 11
Build Reader Rapport	p. 12
Come to Terms with Gender	p. 13
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 1	p. 16
From Purpose Through Process	p. 17
Know Your Single Purpose	p. 17
Writing in Four Stages	p. 21
Five-Step Revision and Edit	p. 28
Help for Your Grammar	p. 29
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 2	p. 30
The Power of Words to Express, Not impress	p. 31
Make It Clear, Economical, and Straightforward	p. 31
Avoid Trite Phrases, Cliches, and Jargon	p. 38
Accentuate the Positive	p. 40
Make It Active	p. 41
Avoid Typographical Excess	p. 42
Avoid Noun and Adjective Stacks	p. 43
Choices and Consideration	p. 43
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 3	p. 44
Structure Your Writing to Reach Your Reader	p. 45
Techniques to Engage the Reader	p. 45
Traditional Letter Form	p. 46
E-Mail Form	p. 49
Tips for Writing at Chip Speed	p. 52
Five Formats for Letters and E-Mail	p. 53
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 4	p. 62
The Power of Visuals, White Space, and Headings	p. 65
Visuals: Into the Head Through the Eyes	p. 65
White Space: Making the Most of Nothing	p. 69
Headings: Signposts and Signals	p. 70
Summary	p. 72
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 5	p. 74
Writing Basics: Grammar and Style	p. 75
Style	p. 76
Vocabulary	p. 78
Grammar	p. 80
Spelling	p. 86
Punctuation	p. 86
Layout	p. 88
Going Beyond This Book	p. 90
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 6	p. 90
How to Start and Stop	p. 91
Gaining Attention	p. 91
Effective Openings	p. 94
Holding Your Readers	p. 96
Ending Strong	p. 96
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 7	p. 98
Writing for Social Media	p. 103
Blogs	p. 103
Tweeting	p. 103
Facebook	p. 105
Summary	p. 108
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 8	p. 109
Zero-Based Writing	p. 111
Move from Assumptions to Perspective	p. 111
Master Process Writing	p. 112
Write Clear, Practical Descriptions	p. 113
Write Simple Instructions	p. 114
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 9	p. 120
Dealing with Tough Situations	p. 121
Breaking Bad News	p. 122
Reacting to a Predicament	p. 125
Above All, Do No Harm	p. 127
Turning Negatives into Positives	p. 128
Competence and Confidence	p. 129
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 10	p. 130
Reports, Reports, Reports	p. 131
Basics for All Reports	p. 131
Occasional Report	p. 134
Activity Report	p. 136
Status or Progress Report	p. 140
Formal Report	p. 143
Evaluating Your Report	p. 148
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 11	p. 150
Persuading Your Readers	p. 151
How to Persuade in Three Difficult Steps	p. 152
Ten Rules of Persuasion	p. 153
Use a Problem/Solution Format	p. 159
Write Powerful Proposals	p. 160
Conclusion	p. 163
Manager's Checklist for Chapter 12	p. 164
Appendix. Postscript: Top 10 Tips for Writing Well in Business	p. 165
Index	p. 169
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