Good Rules of Business Writing

Good rules of business writing stick around, no matter the channel.

But are they still good, many years later, especially when there’s a new generation of people who’ve different opinions about how to communicate?

For example, as I was writing on the whiteboard in front of a workshop last week, a student asked me what ‘language’ I was using.  I was thrown for a second because I only know English, but then realised when I looked at my handwriting she didn’t know what cursive writing is (or “running writing” as it’s sometimes called here in Australia.)

And really, why should she? Nearly every way that she – and almost all of my students – take notes on a device with a keyboard attached. On that day, of the 16 people in the workshop, only one person was using a pencil and a pad, and no surprise, we were probably/roughly the same age.

At the end of the day, how we/you/I physically write may change, but good writing (I hope) at least stays consistent.

The list below is nearly pre-historic to some. These are my notes from March 1982 from my Introduction to Journalism Writing, taught by John Bennett, my brilliant professor at the University of Iowa.

Vale, John! What I learnt from you more than 40 years ago continues to inspire me to this day.

• Begin with the end in mind. What’s the purpose of your business writing? What are you trying to achieve?
• Know your topic. Use respectable research. When you’re not sure, consult an expert.
• Always give credit where credit is due.
• Never assume. If you aren’t sure, read more. Learn more.
• Once you’re clear on purpose and content, have something to say.
• Have an opinion when it warrants an opinion.
• As much as your writing focuses on a specific subject, it’s still your writing. It should be a reflection of you.
• Because it’s a reflection of you, your writing should use good, clean language, syntax, grammar and spelling.
• Be proud of your writing.
• Never add anything – background, details, humour, personal information – at the expense of clarity.
• Mies van der Rohe was right: Less is always more.