Instant-Answer Guide to Business Writing: An A-Z Source for Today's Business Writer

Great resource. I've already used it a dozen or so times in the last week.

With its alphabetical system of organizing information on business writing, this is the best desktop tool I've found for quick reference. Next time someone asks you to write an executive summary, don't whimper. Reach for this book. Your lifesaving information will be easy to find: it's under "E." I use it all the time.

I should start by declaring an interest here - I have attended workshops at Better Communications, the company whose founder wrote this book, and have a friend who works for the company. I think I can say, though, that that has not swayed my judgment on the book (and no money or other favors have changed hands for this review...).The Instant-Answer Guide to Business Writing, subtitled "An A-Z Source for Today's Business Writer", is a remarkable compendium of contemporary English. Although it contains many of the elements of Fowler's Modern English Usage, it also does a lot that is different. One reason for that is that it was written by Deborah Dumaine, the founder of Better Communications, a company that offers workshops on writing for the corporate world. This is reflected in the book's opening section, which gives an introduction to the company's "Reader-Centered Writing" technique. References throughout take you back to this method, whose goal is to enable people to compose compelling business documents.The book, however, is largely self-standing as a guide to writing English in the modern business world, arranged alphabetically by topic. It covers the basics of grammar and syntax, as well as the more strategic issues of writing well for one's reader.At the most basic level of punctuation, the book sets out clear rules on where to put that apostrophe (and on whether you should be using one at all); guides you on how to write dates; and suggests where to use a dash rather than a colon. At the level of grammar, there are sections on how to ensure that you are consistent in your use of singulars and plurals; on "that" and "which" in different kinds of modifying clause; and on the avoidance of the "dangling" participle. On the broader issue of communicating effectively, there are many entries on writing clearly and concisely, and on presenting your words visually in a way that draws in the reader. Throughout the book, there are frequent examples of the right and wrong ways of doing something, and there is a substantial (and useful) appendix of model documents. The index works well; it enabled me to find almost everything I was looking for. The book keeps pace with the times. There is an entry on "sexist language: how to avoid it" and a long one on "e-mail: how to write a compelling message". If the more abstruse grammatical entries might seem pedantic to some readers, there are a good many which have obvious and immediate relevance to the contemporary workplace.Process is a big thing in the Reader-Centered Writing world: what steps do you need to take to get to the well-structured, cogent piece? This finds expression in the introduction, in the entries on drafting and editing, and in the long section on writing as a team. The book does not stop at language as narrowly defined, but includes pieces on charts and graphs, on the use of color in documents, and on presentations. The last gives an example of one of Better Communications' Foc

After reading and using this great book I gained the confidence I needed to write more professional business documents and e-mails. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to communicate clearly within the workplace and with clients. Great easy-to-use tips and guidelines made it easy.