Writing Well for Business Success: A Complete Guide to Style, Grammar, and Usage at Work

by Sandra E. Lamb

Overview

So much of success in business depends on writing well. From résumés to reports, proposals to presentations,Writing Well for Business Success will help you communicate your ideas clearly, quickly and effectively.

It will help you distill your message into a well-targeted statement and ace the elements of style. You'll learn to write what you want to say in emails, business plans and more while mastering the tricks of editing yourself.

Presented in author Sandra Lambs lighthearted and easy accessible style, this little book is an essential desk reference guide for the modern working world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250064516
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sandra E. Lamb is the award-winning author of How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You'll Ever Write. A former columnist for The Denver Post and The Rocky Mountain News, she has written relationship/psychology articles for national women's magazines such as Family Circle and Woman's Day. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface xi

Introduction 1

Part 1 First Things First

1 Before You Write 5

2 Create a Road Map 13

3 What's Your Point?… and Other Principles 18

4 Write, Write, Write 31

5 Revise, Revise, Revise 45

6 Edit, Edit, Edit 48

Part 2 Perfect What You've Written

7 Write with Style, Voice, and Tone 69

8 Punctuation Slam Dunks 73

9 Caution: Yield to Grammar and Usage-or Not! 86

10 Misused, Confused, and Abused Words 106

11 Business Writing Etiquette 126

Part 3 The Shapes of Business Communications

12 The Email Animal (and All Its Electronic Relatives) 137

13 Memos That Make the Point 152

14 Letters That Hit the Mark 158

15 The Business Plan That Gets Action 183

16 The Report That Changes Things 190

17 Proposals and Grant Applications That Get Approved 203

18 The Presentation That Gets the Contract 212

19 The Speech That Gets Applause 218

20 The Resume That Gets the Interview 222

References 243

Index 245

Editorial Reviews

"Combining the best of William Strunk and E.B. White's Elements of Style and William Zinsser's On Writing Well, Lamb remains true to classic writing advice while mirroring the modern business world... Lamb's short, tightly focused chapters and clear prose make this title a must-have for public, academic, and business collections." —Library Journal

“Yes, it's possible to write business prose without sounding like Mr. Burns. Sandra Lamb can tell you how to deliver that bad-news memo, how to write email like a grown-up, how to take blame without groveling, and how to be grammatically correct without being stiff. She knows! And anyone who advises against 'repurpose' and 'strategic fit' gets my vote.” —Patricia T. O’Conner, author with Stewart Kellerman, of Woe Is I and, Origins of the Specious.

“Sandra Lamb is a pro's pro as a writer, editor and coach. Her book is an important resource for anyone interested in clear, concise communications in the business world.” —Timothy Harper, writing coach, CUNY Graduate School of Journalism; editor and publisher, CUNY Journalism Press

“Finally, a clear and easy to read and apply reference book on writing. Sandra Lamb has truly written a fine and concise book that includes all the fundamentals of writing for business and for life. This is one of the best books on writing that I have ever read in my near 40 years of college teaching. This incredible book is nicely designed to allow writers quick and easy access to all of the necessary rules needed to write proper emails, reports, and other office research projects. This is a wonderful book to help both students and professionals succeed. Writing Well will give writers of all levels the confidence and knowledge to be an expert writer on the job or in the classroom. This book is a fresh and insightful way to master writing at work and at home. As a long time college writing instructor, I highly recommend it.” —Professor M. L. Liebler, Department of English / Wayne State University-Detroit

“Sandra E. Lamb has made an enviable career out of practicing what she preaches. Her latest book, Writing Well for Business Success, will benefit anyone who's trying to make the great leap from academic writing (often stuffy, wordy, and riddled with jargon) to clear and concise professional writing.” —Richard Nordquist, professor emeritus of English and guide to grammar and composition at About.com

“Everybody complains about poor nonfiction writing, but Sandra Lamb is doing something about it. Businesses which assign her sensible and useful new book on writing may start to save some of the billions of dollars now being poured into remedial writing classes for all levels of employees.” —Will Fitzhugh, The Concord Review

“This is the one book your high school English teacher would like you to commit to memory. Read it before you type something that could get you fired.” —Alisa Bowman, journalist and co-author Pitch Perfect

“Sandra Lamb's latest book is essential reading for every businessperson. Keep it next to your computer and plan to use it everyday.” —Robert L. Shook, New York Times Best Selling Author

“Anyone who works with words on the job—or to get a job—will benefit from the remarkable expertise of writing guru Sandra E. Lamb. She's written a warm and friendly guide to making yourself heard whether you're writing an email, a resume or a business plan.” —Randy Dotinga, president, American Society of Journalists and Authors

From the Publisher

Sandra E. Lamb has made an enviable career out of practicing what she preaches. Her latest book, Writing Well for Business Success, will benefit anyone who's trying to make the great leap from academic writing (often stuffy, wordy, and riddled with jargon) to clear and concise professional writing.

professor emeritus of English and guide to grammar Richard Nordquist

Finally, a clear and easy to read and apply reference book on writing. Sandra Lamb has truly written a fine and concise book that includes all the fundamentals of writing for business and for life. This is one of the best books on writing that I have ever read in my near 40 years of college teaching. This incredible book is nicely designed to allow writers quick and easy access to all of the necessary rules needed to write proper emails, reports, and other office research projects. This is a wonderful book to help both students and professionals succeed. Writing Well will give writers of all levels the confidence and knowledge to be an expert writer on the job or in the classroom. This book is a fresh and insightful way to master writing at work and at home. As a long time college writing instructor, I highly recommend it.

Department of English / Wayne State University-Det Professor M. L. Liebler

★ 11/01/2015
Combining the best of William Strunk and E.B. White's Elements of Style and William Zinsser's On Writing Well, Lamb (How To Write It) remains true to classic writing advice while mirroring the modern business world and "help[ing] the business writer master the skills of effective business writing in…[a] world of electronic business transmissions." Emphasizing the need to answer the questions of what, why, where, when, and how much in the most complete and succinct manner possible, Lamb provides judicious and effective sidebars, multiple examples, and extensive lists, making this book almost as complete as a grammar text. Examples of the lists include 21 pages of "Misused, Confused, and Abused Words" as well as five pages of jargon and buzzwords. Lamb covers all writing stages, from outlining and organizing one's thoughts to editing before sending a message; writing reports, memos, proposals, grant applications, presentations, speeches, and electronic communications; and offers sample résumés and letters. Unlike Christine A. Hult's The Handy English Grammar Answer Book, which provides answers to the most common grammar questions for a variety of writing situations, Lamb concentrates solely on business writing and often provides more examples than those found in Hult's work. The bibliography includes classics such as R.W. Burchfield's Fowler's Modern English Usage and Constance Hale's Sin and Syntax. The detailed index means easy access. VERDICT Offering an emphasis on business writing, Lamb's short, tightly focused chapters and clear prose make this title a must-have for public, academic, and business collections serving business people, writers, students, and those interacting with the business culture.—Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX

Library Journal