This document provides tips for effective business writing. It emphasizes that clear communication is key, with 80% focused on communication and 20% on other elements. Some key tips include clarifying your intent before writing, clearly stating your main point up front, covering only one topic per document, providing supporting details, and editing for conciseness. It also recommends having a strong central thesis, making points briefly, fact checking, not relying solely on spell check, taking the time to not rush writing, and using references like dictionaries and thesauruses.

1. Business Writing Basics

2. Communication: 2 A giving or exchanging of information, signals, or messages as by talk, gestures, or writing 5 The art of expressing ideas, especially in speech and writing Webster’s New World Dictionary, 3 rd ed.

3. Communication: Communication influences thoughts, feelings, and actions. Information merely informs Use the 80/20 Rule

4. 80% Communication

5. 20%

6. Clear Clarify what it is you intend before writing

7. Clear Clearly state your intent in the lead

8. Clear One topic per communication

9. Clear Provide supporting detail

10. Edit! Less is more, in many cases

11. Strong thesis If everything else is cut, will your message still be clear?

12. Make points briefly Don’t get hung on an issue

13. Correct Check the facts

14. Correct Do not rely on spell check

15. Correct Do not rush

16. Correct Dictionaries and thesauruses are the writer’s friends