Business Writing: Proven Techniques for Writing Memos, Letters, Reports, and Emails that Get Results

by Wilma Davidson, Janet Emig (Foreword)

First published by Griffin in 1994, Wilma Davidson's clear, practical guide to business writing has established itself as a steady seller and an excellent primer for anyone who writes on the job. Newly revised to cover e-mail, texts, and the latest word social media technology, the book uses examples, charts, cartoons, and anecdotes to illustrate what makes memos, business letters, reports, selling copy, and other types of business writing work.

Genres: Writing, Business, Reference, Nonfiction, Self Help

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 1994

About the author

Wilma has been coaching clients in corporate classrooms since 1980. As president of Davidson & Associates, she has advised a wide range of Fortune 500 companies, educational groups, government agencies, and professional organizations on the written and oral communication challenges confronting them.

​In addition to helping others handle their page and stage fright, to coaching better writing and speaking success in the workplace, to ghostwriting and editing for others, she has taught these topics on the undergraduate and graduate college levels.

Over the years her work has been featured in prominent publications and along with her published articles on a variety of topics, she has authored and co-authored several books on the art of communicating well.

​Wilma earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Connecticut, a Master's in English Education from the State University of New York, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Journalism from American International College, and a doctorate from Rutgers University where she was one of the first scholars to earn a doctorate by examining the types of writing unique to business.

Reviews

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book to assist me in writing a curriculum for a course I was teaching. I found the concepts to be relevant and it was very thorough. I'd recommend using this book if you need more direction on how to write emails, memos, and other writing that is required for business communication.

[Hind Mohmmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a perfect book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about how to write good emails.

[Biblioteka Wydziału Neofilologii UW]

N.15997, N.15998

[R.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I was provided a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.)

Very clear, informative, and helpful book for those who aren't sure how to get their point across in a business environment or who have picked up some bad habits along the way. It addresses how to be clear, concise, and grammatically correct. There are chapters on how to figure out what you need to say, on how to organize the information visually to make it easier to read, and how to frame and tone your message depending on what you'd like the recipient to do. There were suggestions on how to be concise without being short, how to be polite but not too polite, etc. The book covers a lot of the basics but also includes a lot of the 'tricks' that I often use at work (bulleted lists are your friend, start off with your main point, etc.) The book provides a lot of examples, with revisions, which I think is helpful to allow the reader to see what the author's advice looks like in practice.

The book is a tiny bit dated, as it was obviously written back when "memos" were done mostly on paper rather than electronically, but updates have been made to keep the advice relevant and applicable to an email culture. The pictures are a bit dated and hokey, as well as extending the page count, but they also help to break up the content and keep the book visually interesting. In some places the author's voice comes through a bit too strongly (using an incorrect construction when talking about that construction, for instance, as a joke...this is fine if someone already knows the rule and just needs a reminder, but I don't think you can assume that for all readers, and if they miss the joke, then they might be confused by seeing the wrong construction used.) The section about using humor in writing also struck me as a bit too contrived, but maybe that's just because humor in my workplace writing should only be used very gently and sparingly. In general, a few more suggestions of how to assess your office's existing and accepted "writing tone" and then adapt the book's advice for that tone would have been welcome.

Overall, this is a great book for someone who needs a little help with business writing, and I think that anyone can take away some points from it. I'm going to recommend it to a friend for whom English is a second language, because I think she'll find it helpful. I have found myself giving her a lot of the advice that this book gives!

[Novi Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has many good examples. Many of the examples and some of the points in the book is presented in a witty, funny way. I know some of you will roll your eyes after reading my next statement, but it makes it more fun to learn Business Writing. I use this book and Kitty Locker's Business and Administration Communication for my Business writing reference.

[Tinea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed. This is just a very basic 'how to write' book for those who really feel they can't communicate well in writing. There is some insight on tone and writing to deadlines, and the difference between good ideas and good writing and the importance of both, but also a lot of filler.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book is what I consider common sense. It's utility lies in the section of each "chaper" that explains how to deal with your boss of whatever personality type. It's is also a good aid to start learning about self improvement. There are probably better books for these points though.

[Martin Bihl · Rating 1 out of 5]

really superficial.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm using this as the textbook for a writing class I'm teaching - I like the style of this. It's very easy to read and has a lot of stuff people can use as reference.

[Frank Corriveau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty insightful. Some food for thought. No great secrets.