We write a lot in business. From emails and texts to reports and website content, we are using words to help convey ideas, provide updates and inspire people to act. We want to be clear and concise while making sure we provide the necessary information to people reading what we send. To help, below are a few books with tips and advice to feel more confident getting our ideas across through our business writing.
Book Recommendations for Business Writing
Getting the Words Right by Theodore A. Rees Cheney (Writer’s Digest Books)
This book breaks down writing into its smallest components with practical advice and tips to improve how we communicate with our audiences through writing. With 39 different opportunities to improve our writing, we all can find something that resonates with us to work on. Please note that this isn’t specifically written for writing at work so some of the examples and discussions won’t apply. But, this is a great book for anyone looking to understand exactly how to revise our writing to make it better.
Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall (Liveright Publishing Corporation)
Written by a former editor of the New York Times Op-Ed page, this book offers insights into how to write to help persuade our readers. Not all the sections apply to business writing, but we can apply the lessons on listening to our audiences, incorporating empathy into our writing, and more to help structure our communications to help connect with and potentially convince our audiences at work. Additionally, a section on writing tips outlines some practical advice to incorporate stories, be specific, and more.
Do I Make Myself Clear? Why Writing Well Matters by Harold Evans (Little, Brown and Company)
An insightful look at how we are bombarded with confusing messages daily, this book is a good reminder of the importance of being explicit with our words and clearly communicating. Evans shares good advice for incorporating storytelling into the pieces we write, as well as a sentence clinic and shortcuts to make our writing clearer. Filled with interesting examples, this book is a nice mix of inspiration and the tools needed to improve our writing to be deliberate with our words.
Take Action
To improve our business writing, we need to take small actions consistently. Try out new things to see what works for us and what does not. So, decide on one of these books to get from a local library or bookstore. Then, pick out just one idea from it that we can try out at work this week.
