The Art of E-Mail Writing, Part 5

Chapter 5 of The Art of E-Mail Writing is concerned with writing style: issues of courtesy, clarity, conciseness, and correctness. These two excerpts from that chapter, separated by daggers, provide tips on clarity and conciseness. The Art of E-Mail Writing is available from First Books (www.FirstBooks.com)


CHAPTER 5: STYLE—COMING ACROSS PROFESSIONALLY

Keep the subject and verb closely connected.

Unclear: When an employee applies for a new position in the Company, factors such as professional credentials, employee appraisals, manager and peer recommendations, project involvement, training completed, educational achievement, and interview responses must be considered.

Clearer: When an employee applies for a new position in the Company, management must consider all factors, including professional credentials, employee appraisals, manager and peer recommendations, project involvement, training completed, educational achievement, and interview responses.

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Keep sentences as short as practical.

Unclear: Marie’s position is that, while her manager has the primary responsibility of making purchasing decisions for her unit, she, as the assistant manager, is obligated to conduct adequate product research, including the identification of the most suitable model of the product, best purchase price, and most qualified product vendor and service contractor. (1 sentence, 52 words)

Clearer: Marie’s understands that her manager is responsible for ultimately deciding on purchases. She also believes that as the assistant manager, she should do product research. Her criteria should include the most suitable model, best purchase price, and most qualified product vendor and service contractor. (3 sentences, 44 words)


To purchase your copy of The Art of On-the-Job Writing by Philip Vassallo, click here: https://www.firstbooks.com/product_info.php?cPath=14&products_id=144

Coming Soon! The Art of E-Mail Writing by Philip Vassallo, also through First Books: http://www.firstbooks.com/.