7 Cs OF BUSINESS WRITING COMPLETENESS CONCISENESS CONSIDERATION CLARITY CONCRETENESS COURTESY CORRECTNESS
COMPLETENESS Answer all questions that are asked Give something extra when desirable Check for five Ws & one H Who  What  When  Where  Why and  How
Exercise-1 The owner of a mutual fund stock wrote to the investment department of your bank ,that he wanted to sell his shares. He asked,” just how does your bank want me to authorize this sale?” How would you reply to this query keeping the five Ws and one H guideline in mind?
Exercise-2           You are the president of an industry association and have received the following inquiry from an out of town member, “I think I would like to attend my first meeting of the association, even though I am not acquainted with your city. Will you please tell me where the next meeting is being held? How would you reply to this letter  keeping in mind  Completeness  of the message?
CONCISENESS 1. Eliminate wordy expressions 2. Include only relevant statements  be focussed,  prune & avoid long explanations avoid gushing politemess 3. Avoid unnecessary repetitions  use short forms the second time use pronouns
Exercise -3 Find single word substitutes for the phrases
      Along the same lines     At this time     Consensus of opinion    Date of policy    Due to the fact that During the time of the day During the year of Few and far between For a price of
For the reason of that From the point of view of   Have need of   In accordance with your request    In due course    Allow me to say    In reply , I wish to say    Please be advised     Please find attached  
Exercise -4 Rewrite the following by omitting articles, trite expressions, rambling sentences and repetitions: At this time I am writing to you to enclose the post paid appointment card for the purpose of arranging a convenient time when we might get-together for a personal interview.
Exercise –4 contd. We hereby wish to let you know that we fully appreciate the confidence you have reposed in us.  
Exercise – 4  contd Will you ship us sometime, any  time during the month of October , or even November if you are rushed , for November will suit us just as well , in fact a little bit better , 300 of the regular three and a half inch blue arm bands with white sewn letter in the middle .    
CONSIDERATION Focus on YOU instead of I & WE Show reader benefit & interest Emphasize positive& pleasant Apply integrity & ethics
Ex.5-Write  with  a  ‘you ‘ attitude , it shows consideration    I want to send my congratulations for --- We will ship soon the goods  your May 4 order---- We pay eight percent interest on -----
Ex.5-Write  with  a  ‘you ‘ attitude , it shows consideration ( contd) May I take this opportunity to express my thanks for the account you recently opened with our store.  We are pleased to furnish a wide variety of products for the home of the individual customer. We want you to take full advantage of the store services, for we have the largest store in the city. Also we make deliveries for our customer free of charge with in a 30 miles radius of our store.We welcome you to Ebony. If we can be of additional help please let us know .
Ex 6-Avoid negative – unpleasant words  to show consideration   It  is impossible to open an account for you today. We don’t refund if the returned item is soiled and unusable. When you travel on company expense, you will not receive approval for first class fare.   T  To  avoid further delay and inconvenience , we are sending this report by express mail.
  Ex –7 : Show reader benefit or interest in the reader ; in the letter from an insurance company to policy holders .   Because we have not written to you in sometime , please help us bring our record by filling and returning the other half of the card .  
CONCRETENESS Use specific facts and figures Put action into verbs Choose vivid image building words by comparison & figurative language (?) Use more adjectives and adverbs
Ex:8- Rewrite the following  in concrete form as the sentences are too general and vague. This  computer reproduces campaign letters fast   Our product has won several prizes.   These brakes stop a car within a short distance.
Ex:9-Put action into the words by using active instead of passive voice. Tests were made by us   A full report will be sent to you by the supervisor. The contract had a requirement …. Mr. Singh will give consideration to the report ….
Ex : 10-Use vivid image building words – adjectives and adverts , and use less of  abstract nouns   The camera has a system that gives good pictures.  
CLARITY Choose short , familiar & conversational words Construct effective sentences and paragraphs by unity of idea and sequencing Achieve appropriate readability by using formal & informal language Include examples, illustrations & visual aids
Ex : 11-Use simple words  Circa(L) Subsequent Promulgate Inadvertence e.g..(L)   Domicile Remuneration
Ex: 12-Choose a conversational style  After perusal of pertinent data the conclusion is that a lucrative market exists for the subject property . Easement for egress and ingress    A letter from the quality bureau to a plumber said – “The efficacy of hydrochloric acid is indisputable, but the corrosive residue is incompatible with metallic permanence “.
Headings:8-10 words Sentence length:15-20 words Paragraphs:40-70 words Soft words vs hard words
COURTESY Be sincere , tactful, thoughtful and appreciative Omit expressions that hurt , irritate, or insult Grant apologies graciously
Ex : 13-Show  courtesy by avoiding tactless & blunt language. Your letter is not clear at all: Obviously, if you would read your policy carefully you will be able to answer these questions yourself. Apparently you already forgotten what I wrote you two weeks ago.
Ex : 14-Use gender friendly substitutes  Mankind   The best man for the job   Manmade   Manpower   Businessman   Sales man   Chairman
Ex 14 –Contd. You guys should all be concerned about the issue. Each manger has an assigned place – he should park his car…. Each customer will have change noted on his bill
Ex: 15-SEMANTIC FACTORS IN WRITING     Meeting room----   Dog-----   Gay-----   Women’s libber-----   Fair wages----   Cheap---- Speed---   Scholar---   Fat check---   Worm---  
CORRECTNESS Use the right level of language Check accuracy of facts, figures and words Maintain  acceptable writing mechanics Choose non discriminatory language Use parallel language

7 Cs Ppt With Excercises

  • 1.
    7 Cs OFBUSINESS WRITING COMPLETENESS CONCISENESS CONSIDERATION CLARITY CONCRETENESS COURTESY CORRECTNESS
  • 2.
    COMPLETENESS Answer allquestions that are asked Give something extra when desirable Check for five Ws & one H Who What When Where Why and How
  • 3.
    Exercise-1 The ownerof a mutual fund stock wrote to the investment department of your bank ,that he wanted to sell his shares. He asked,” just how does your bank want me to authorize this sale?” How would you reply to this query keeping the five Ws and one H guideline in mind?
  • 4.
    Exercise-2          You are the president of an industry association and have received the following inquiry from an out of town member, “I think I would like to attend my first meeting of the association, even though I am not acquainted with your city. Will you please tell me where the next meeting is being held? How would you reply to this letter keeping in mind Completeness of the message?
  • 5.
    CONCISENESS 1. Eliminatewordy expressions 2. Include only relevant statements be focussed, prune & avoid long explanations avoid gushing politemess 3. Avoid unnecessary repetitions use short forms the second time use pronouns
  • 6.
    Exercise -3 Findsingle word substitutes for the phrases
  • 7.
         Along the same lines    At this time    Consensus of opinion   Date of policy   Due to the fact that During the time of the day During the year of Few and far between For a price of
  • 8.
    For the reasonof that From the point of view of   Have need of   In accordance with your request   In due course   Allow me to say   In reply , I wish to say   Please be advised    Please find attached  
  • 9.
    Exercise -4 Rewritethe following by omitting articles, trite expressions, rambling sentences and repetitions: At this time I am writing to you to enclose the post paid appointment card for the purpose of arranging a convenient time when we might get-together for a personal interview.
  • 10.
    Exercise –4 contd.We hereby wish to let you know that we fully appreciate the confidence you have reposed in us.  
  • 11.
    Exercise – 4 contd Will you ship us sometime, any time during the month of October , or even November if you are rushed , for November will suit us just as well , in fact a little bit better , 300 of the regular three and a half inch blue arm bands with white sewn letter in the middle .    
  • 12.
    CONSIDERATION Focus onYOU instead of I & WE Show reader benefit & interest Emphasize positive& pleasant Apply integrity & ethics
  • 13.
    Ex.5-Write with a ‘you ‘ attitude , it shows consideration   I want to send my congratulations for --- We will ship soon the goods your May 4 order---- We pay eight percent interest on -----
  • 14.
    Ex.5-Write with a ‘you ‘ attitude , it shows consideration ( contd) May I take this opportunity to express my thanks for the account you recently opened with our store. We are pleased to furnish a wide variety of products for the home of the individual customer. We want you to take full advantage of the store services, for we have the largest store in the city. Also we make deliveries for our customer free of charge with in a 30 miles radius of our store.We welcome you to Ebony. If we can be of additional help please let us know .
  • 15.
    Ex 6-Avoid negative– unpleasant words to show consideration   It is impossible to open an account for you today. We don’t refund if the returned item is soiled and unusable. When you travel on company expense, you will not receive approval for first class fare.   T To avoid further delay and inconvenience , we are sending this report by express mail.
  • 16.
      Ex –7: Show reader benefit or interest in the reader ; in the letter from an insurance company to policy holders .   Because we have not written to you in sometime , please help us bring our record by filling and returning the other half of the card .  
  • 17.
    CONCRETENESS Use specificfacts and figures Put action into verbs Choose vivid image building words by comparison & figurative language (?) Use more adjectives and adverbs
  • 18.
    Ex:8- Rewrite thefollowing in concrete form as the sentences are too general and vague. This computer reproduces campaign letters fast   Our product has won several prizes.   These brakes stop a car within a short distance.
  • 19.
    Ex:9-Put action intothe words by using active instead of passive voice. Tests were made by us   A full report will be sent to you by the supervisor. The contract had a requirement …. Mr. Singh will give consideration to the report ….
  • 20.
    Ex : 10-Usevivid image building words – adjectives and adverts , and use less of abstract nouns The camera has a system that gives good pictures.  
  • 21.
    CLARITY Choose short, familiar & conversational words Construct effective sentences and paragraphs by unity of idea and sequencing Achieve appropriate readability by using formal & informal language Include examples, illustrations & visual aids
  • 22.
    Ex : 11-Usesimple words Circa(L) Subsequent Promulgate Inadvertence e.g..(L) Domicile Remuneration
  • 23.
    Ex: 12-Choose aconversational style After perusal of pertinent data the conclusion is that a lucrative market exists for the subject property . Easement for egress and ingress    A letter from the quality bureau to a plumber said – “The efficacy of hydrochloric acid is indisputable, but the corrosive residue is incompatible with metallic permanence “.
  • 24.
    Headings:8-10 words Sentencelength:15-20 words Paragraphs:40-70 words Soft words vs hard words
  • 25.
    COURTESY Be sincere, tactful, thoughtful and appreciative Omit expressions that hurt , irritate, or insult Grant apologies graciously
  • 26.
    Ex : 13-Show courtesy by avoiding tactless & blunt language. Your letter is not clear at all: Obviously, if you would read your policy carefully you will be able to answer these questions yourself. Apparently you already forgotten what I wrote you two weeks ago.
  • 27.
    Ex : 14-Usegender friendly substitutes Mankind   The best man for the job   Manmade   Manpower   Businessman   Sales man   Chairman
  • 28.
    Ex 14 –Contd.You guys should all be concerned about the issue. Each manger has an assigned place – he should park his car…. Each customer will have change noted on his bill
  • 29.
    Ex: 15-SEMANTIC FACTORSIN WRITING     Meeting room----   Dog-----   Gay-----   Women’s libber-----   Fair wages----   Cheap---- Speed---   Scholar---   Fat check---   Worm---  
  • 30.
    CORRECTNESS Use theright level of language Check accuracy of facts, figures and words Maintain acceptable writing mechanics Choose non discriminatory language Use parallel language