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How to Improve Your Business Writing
Back when you were in high school or college, I'll bet you didn't devote much time to your English classes. Most of us didn't. We sure should have. Written communication skills are one of the best ways to stand out from your competitors. There are some easy ways you can improve your writing.
One of the best things you can do to improve your writing is to read more frequently. Many people don't enjoy reading for pleasure. If this is the case, at least spend some time reading business books or magazines. Pay attention to sentence structure, punctuation, grammar and style to improve your own writing. While you are improving your writing, you are getting increased business knowledge as well.
We've all become reliant on spell check to catch our writing errors. Spelling and grammar check are great tools but they are not foolproof. After you've used spell/grammar check, do a final proofread or ask your best proofreader to do it for you.
Revise, revise, revise. It can take several revisions before you get an important letter, document or piece of marketing material written with polish, power and persuasion. Keep editing until you get it right (and this helps you practice and improve your writing in the long-term).
You are not alone in commonly misusing certain words. In fact, there are many web sites that will give you a list of these misused words like effect vs. affect, loose vs. lose and it's vs. its. Bookmark one or a few of these and make sure you aren't making these common mistakes that spell check will not pick up.
As a business owner it is important that you keep a writing/style guide on hand. Professional writers refer to these often so you should not expect to write well without one. There are also laminated cheat sheets you can purchase to keep on hand as a quick reference.
A common error for many writers is using too many words in an attempt to appear professional. It doesn't. Ernest Hemingway encouraged writers to use short sentences.
Be aware of common filler words like "however" and "of course". Revise your sentences and see how few words you can use while still making your point.
Different parts of the country make different mistakes with the English language. The Midwest struggles with "I seen that" versus the correct "I saw that" while the northern regions tend towards "Can I go with" versus the correct "Can I go with you?". Be aware of these common mistakes so that you can prevent making them while speaking and writing.
Writing communicates much more than the message you are intending to convey. Many people hate to write because they don't trust in their own abilities. Writing is a skill that deserves practice. If it is sloppy and weak, that is the impression people will have about you and your business. Take some time to improve this basic, but crucial, skill.
About the Author With 30 years of consulting experience, Steven Schlagel provides training and coaching for startups, entrepreneurs and small business owners. Check his site for more articles to increase your success!
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