This might be the best ever, most innovative stuff you read

   
     Upon surfing the internet recently, I ran across an article titled '10 Terms to avoid in business writing'.  In this article, it touched on a few words to beware of using in business-to-business writing. 

     Words like really, very, learn, free, stuff, innovative, cheap, sell, maybe, might, best ever, most, absolute and other fancy words are looked down upon by businesses.  Those words immediately made me think about my personal email.  Every day, I'm either deleting messages or clearing out my spam folder.  I watch for emails that mention the word, free. I clear out the emails that advertise their product as the best thing out there.  

     The article stated the obvious.  The words, really or very, aren't necessary words.  The word, free, is a word used to entice and hurts your business.  The word, stuff, isn't specific enough and lacks an effort.  The word, innovative, is overused and a generalized marketing pitch word.  The connotation of the word cheap sounds cheap.  You can receive more positive responses by using words like cost-effective or affordable.  The words, maybe or might, insinuate a sense of being unsure.  Lastly, the words, best ever/most/absolute, are exaggerations and they don't give specifics on the product. 
    
     The article calls these words unforgivable. In business, I believe that the content of your writing is the key to getting what you want.

2 Wom It May Consern

            It’s nothing worse than submitting a business proposal or sending a business email, then reading over it later to find grammatical errors, typos, fragments and run-on sentences. If it makes you cringe, just imagine what the other person reading it is doing! For example, just the other day, I received an email from an attorney with two typos. Now, everyone’s human. However, it’s only natural that a person might hold attorneys to a higher standard.

            In the business world, a lack of writing skills can make or break you. I read over an article recently titled ’12 Tips for Better Business Writing’ and it was very informative. The author of this article confessed that most business people don’t have much experience writing. Writing isn’t stressed when you’re getting a business degree in the same way it would be with a law degree.

            They say that less is more. Get your point across quickly. Be concise. Besides, we are in a time of busy, busy, busy! People are on a move and don’t have time for business written soliloquys! Remember to include the who, what, when, where and why’s and be done with it.

            They discourage jargon. Avoid the fancy schmancy. People tend to lose sight of what you’re trying to convey when you use jargons.

            Watch the names, titles and genders to insure that you aren’t offending anyone. Be professional but not too formal. People want to know that there’s a comfort level so that there’s a connection. Just know your boundaries. For example, in high school, I had a friend that my parents told, “Make yourself at home.” They stated it to be polite and to make her feel comfortable. But, when she kicked off her shoes and went into the refrigerator, they raised an eyebrow.

            Get it right once and keep it right. In my position, I have to send out the same email on a daily basis. So, I created templates/form letters so that I can just cut/paste what I need. Not only does it save time but it gives you the confidence that you have an error-free letter/email.

             Proofread, proofread and, when you’re done, proofread some more. It’s nothing more embarrassing than noticing your own mistakes once it’s out of your hands. If you’re still unsure about your writing content, you should contact a freelancer to be your second set of eyes.

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It

           Recently, a friend told me a story about something she'd encountered. However, I missed the story because I was hung on an unfamiliar word. Before responding to her story, I asked, "What does (unknown word) mean?" She smiled and told me. I wasn't ashamed either! Heck, on any other occasion, I'll run straight to the computer, pull up Google and search for word definitions! How do you find out what something means if you don't ask? However, some people don't react the same way that I do. They hear words that are unfamiliar to them, and they cringe. They clam up. They feel intimidated—and they never ask what it means. Sometimes, they miss the message completely because they didn't understand some of the words.

            In reading a recent article called 'Does A Big Vocabulary Make You Look Like a Showoff', it addressed this very thing. Just think about a person that's intimidated by vocabulary in your corporation. This issue has the potential to impact multiple departments. For example, Public Relations might experience issues because a representative of the corporation spoke, but nobody understood him. Higher-ups could speak to their staff and the staff might not understand them.

            Sometimes, people could potentially take your superior vocabulary as condescending. Sure, it's great to have an expansive vocabulary! However, the article I read suggests that tough words should be used sparingly. Just be aware of who's listening and the importance of them understanding you.