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Unit 3 Writing for Successful Communication
Structuring
Clear and
Concise
Sentences
As a business writer,
you must arrange words
so sentences convey a
meaningful unit of thought.
Being aware of techniques
for writing sentences helps
improve your writing style.
You can make your writing
not only clearer, but also more
interesting to read.
Balance Sentence
Length
Short, simple sentences
are more understandable than
long, complex ones. However,
too many short, simple
sentences are boring and, in
some cases, make the entire
text hard to read. To judge
the best length of a sentence,
consider if the reader can
immediately identify the main
idea without having to wade
through unnecessary words.
Aim to make sentences
short enough to be clear, but avoid writing a series of short sentences that
make the text sound choppy. Joining clauses and adding phrases will make
sentences fl ow smoothly and add variety to your writing. These are the keys
to achieving balance and keeping the reader’s interest. Notice the difference in
the following examples.
Draft
The company hopes the plant will open next spring. The plant will cover
200 acres. It will house 700 people. These employees are currently
spread around the city in four different offi ces.
Revision
With much anticipation, the company plans to open the new plant
next spring. The 200-acre campus will house 700 employees who are
currently spread around the city in four different offi ces.
Be sure the words you choose are appropriate for your
audience. Young, trendy businesspeople may understand
trendy language, but in the future, will others?
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