Techniques of Writing Business Letters, Memos, and Reports

by Bovee, Courtland L.

• ISBN13: 9780195329636
• ISBN10: 0195329635
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1989-01-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Techniques of Writing Business Letters, Memos, and Reports is a concise supplemental text covering the basics of effective business writing in these three essential areas. The text eases the job of teaching, as students are not only told what to do, they are shown, step-by-step. Short, applications-oriented exercises enable students to practice what they have learned and allow instructors to pinpoint areas which require more work. In this book, Courtland L. Bovee reveals the following secrets of successful writing that help students become better business writers: * Action-oriented phrases that sell ideas and motivate others to do what you want them to do. * Three words that can destroy favorable reactions to what you write. * How to turn negative words into positive words. * A simple formula that makes your writing more readable. * How to keep your business associates and customers happy--even when you have to criticize, scold, or decline a request. * Writing shortcuts that put across your ideas quickly and concisely. * Writing tips that turn adversaries into friends. How to make written communication work for you instead of against you.

Author Biography

Courtland L. Bovee is co-author of Random House's bestselling Business Communication Today. He also wrote Business Writing Workshop (Roxbury) and Contemporary Advertising (Irwin). A lecturer and communications consultant to business and industry, he is also a member of the faculty in the business department at Grossmont College, El Cajon, California.

Table of Contents

Principles of Written Communication

General Techniques

Write to People

Make Reading Easy

Style Is A Help

Correcting Faults in Technique

Words

Strong words

Familiar Words

Short Words

Concrete Words

Active Words

Camouflaged Words

Technical Words

Unnecessary Words

Phrases

Replaceable Phrases

Infinitive Substitutes

Obsolete Phrases

Sentences

Short Sentences

Pompous Sentences

Overloaded Sentences

Undue Enthusiasm

Crowded-Together Sentences

Hedging Sentences

Pronoun Starters

Parallelism

Awkward Pointers

Misassembled Sentences

Paragraphs

Paragraph Unity

Topic Sentences

Short Paragraphs

Principles of Writing Letters

Letter Writing Techniques Organizational Steps

Types of Letters

Neutral

Good News

Bad News

Persuasive

Persuasion

Tone

"You" Viewpoint

Positive vs. Negative Viewpoint

Euphemisms

Confidence and Conviction

Warmth

Parallel Experience

Good Manners

Letter Mechanics

ImageCompany ImageLetter

heads

Format

Form Letters

Principles of Writing Memorandums

Purposes

Format

Coverage

Style

Tone

Principles of Writing Formal Reports

Types of Reports

Introduction

Informational

Examinational

Analytical

Report Planning

Problem Determination

Problem Factors

Data Research

Research Methods

Note-Taking

Data Organization

Data Grouping

Outline Requirements

Report Elements

Title Fly

Title Page

Letter of Authorization

Letter of Transmittal

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Introduction

Report Body

Summary/Conclusions/Recommendations

Appendixes

Bibliography

Index

Data Interpretation

The Data Base

Logic

Evaluation Attitudes

Checking

Interpretation Procedure

Communication Essentials

Believability

Viewpoint

Coherence

Style

Excerpts

Footnotes

Bibliography

Illustrations and Tables

Plan

Location

General Mechanics

Tables

Final Format

Physical Presentation

Typing

Special Formats

Part 5

Scope

Techniques

Appendixes

References for Business Writers

Skill-Building Writing Exercises

Checklist of Wordy and Trite Expressions

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