8 Ways to Improve Your Professional Writing Skills

8 Ways to Improve Your Professional Writing Skills8 Ways to Improve Your Professional Writing Skills Even if writer isnt mentioned anywhere in your job description , the ability to write well can be a big boost to your career.From communicating with potential clients via your newsletter to sending an email to your boss to composing a company-wide report, most professional communication is done via the written word, so its absolutely essential that your writing skills are up to snuff.Here are eight tips on how you can improve your business writing skills, no matter your position.You will lose credibility quickly if the information you communicate isnt accurate. So dont rely on any old source to give you the information you need. Many websites quote incomplete or incorrect information, and some even purposefully spread untruths. Focus on official institutional sites, like those run by government agencies , educational organizations or well-established businesses. If your source cites another study or report, find the original and interpret the data yourself. Dont trust a stat just because its reported by a news outlet. Do your own fact-checking.Whether youre writing for clients or colleagues, remember that everyone is short on time . In order to get - and keep - peoples attention, you need to be concise. Remember that shorter items are likely to be read on a mobile device. So use short sentences and paragraphs to keep text readable, and put your main point in the first sentence. For longer reports, use section headings and formatting tools, like bold font, to draw attention to key ideas (but dont go overboard).Once youve completed a draft, ask yourself, How could this be misunderstood? Take a step back from your writing and read it from the audiences point of view. Look for words with multiple meanings and replace them with more precise alternatives. If youre describing a process, use sequencing and transition words, like first, second or next, to help your reader follow along. Double check your work and make your writing as clear as possible.Its always worth getting help with your writing, and plenty of zugreifbar tools offer help. Give these a tryNothing is worse than having to send emails back and forth all day trying to clarify the details. Give readers everything they need so they dont have to email back asking for more info. Nothing will alienate a potential client - or coworker - more than sending something thats far too general to be useful.Tone doesnt just matter when youre talking to people face to face. It also affects your writing. You can tell when people are being curt, rude or unfriendly when theyre writing. When youre writing, use a friendly tone that invites readers to pay attention while being courteous to them. Theyll appreciate this more than youd think.Sometimes, sending a message or an email isnt the best way to get in touch. It might be better to pick up the phone, set up a video chat or meet up in person. Keep this in mind when youre about to send a message. Is this message best sent via writing, or should it be delivered face to face?Youd be surprised at how many professionals skip this step - at a cost. No matter what youre writing, ensure that its properly proofread and edited before its sent. Even a single letter in the wrong place in the wrong word can lead to embarrassment later. Spell check wont catch everything, so make sure you read your writing carefully.This article was originally published on DailyWorth . It is reprinted with permission.