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Content writing errors

March 5, 2013 by Rosemary Leave a Comment

Content writing for business

Yes great content writing

Common content writing errors in business documentation.

Content writing is the coalface of your business and online presence. There are some errors in content writing that keep presenting themselves. It is useful to keep reminding ourselves of these – after all it makes good writing sense. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business writing, Grammar Tagged With: business documentation, business writing, content writing, copywriting, grammar, online writing, writing

Good business writing is your communication success story

Good business writing means no waffle.  

Plain English is the key

Plain English is the key to good business writing

Are you the worst at business writing?

Snoopy knowingly and willingly plagiarised the first few words to a notorious and dreadful opening sentence for an even worse novel called “Paul Clifford”, written by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton in 1830. The words were “a dark and stormy night” and snoopy was sitting on his kennel rooftop with his typewriter.

Thirty ago, “A dark and stormy night”, sparked off a bad writing contest and over 30,000 wretched writers have aimed to claim fame with their winning bad sentence. Visit the website www.bulwer-lytton.com/  for further amusement.

So it seems there is fame and fortune to be found in writing bad sentences.

However, bad sentences are not that productive or rewarding in business.

Would you rather read:

It is incumbent upon management to display appropriate behaviour and verbalise what is consistent
with the messages that are being conveyed via your business communication
methodologies.
(James, N. 2007)

Or: As a manager, you should always demonstrate the communication methods of your business. (James, N.  2007)

Plain english is good business writing

I attended a short seminar on Plain English writing recently and it felt like the sun had finally shone  through my years of accumulated grey and dense cloud (or should I say fear and absolute dread) since my school days in fear-filled  grammar classrooms. Coming from an academic and health background, my burden with heavy writing has been tiresome.

Finally, I have a systematic structure on which to develop business writing that has clarity, efficiency, is readable and yet persuasive. It is called Plain English.

Writing is creative and meant to be fun; otherwise, why has it persisted since forever. Sometimes I think people would rather walk on hot coals than write words. Sometimes when they do write those words, the words and their meanings are so complex and obscure—and then there is the tone.

Yet the flexibility of words is such a powerful tool it can be utilised in business so successfully. We don’t necessarily want to be an Orwell, Greene or Austin. However, maybe not Bulwer-Lytton either, although he did coin a few well used cool phrases like “the almighty dollar” and “the pen is mightier than the sword”.

Written communication is a key business communication strategy, whether it is in reports, copy, newsletters, emails or websites. It  reflects the quality of your business product, attention to detail and emphasises quality management.

Clear communications can save time, stress and money in the workplace and in the business community, and contribute to improved processes and efficiencies.

What is Plain English?

Plain English is a flexible and efficient writing style that readers can understand in one reading. It combines clear,  concise expression, an effective structure and good document design. (Plain English Foundation)

Some easy plain english rules:

  • Think about your readership before you write and write to them. Focus on your reader and make it relevant, easy to read and  unambiguous.
  • Put your main message in the opening paragraph with supporting information.
  • Use a formal but friendly tone, and active voice rather than passive voice. ‘You can submit by Friday’ rather than ‘It is suggested that consideration be given to submitting by close of business Friday’.
  • Avoid jargon even if it is in-house communication.
  • Be direct and clear using short, familiar words. Sentences of around 15-20 words are good, but a variance in sentence length is good as well.
  • Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
  • Effective editing and proofreading processes.
  • A simple structure for a non-complex document is
    • identify the issue
    • discuss the implications
    • discuss your conclusion
    • identify a call to address the issue.

The Writing Shed. October 2011

© Copyright. No reprinting of article permitted without direct permission from R. Osborne.

 Good business writing makes great sense.

Content Writing – a great marketing strategy

Content Writing, Health and Medical Writing, Web copy

Business Content Writing

 
Professional copywriting is part of your marketing plan
  • Corporate and business documentation,
  • A portfolio of standard text reflecting your company overview
  • Medical and health related documents, rehabilitation reports and other medico-legal documents
  • SEO website content, blogs, newsletters
  • Business letters, profiles – corporate and professional, press releases, resumes, elevator speech
  • Reports, submissions, reviews, policies and procedure manuals
  • Promotional booklets or leaflets

The content of your marketing materials, your website text, your newsletters and your blogs, together create your marketing image.  It is the words that will sell your product. Words attract and engage those exploring online services.

At The Writing Shed we offer an extensive content writing service that includes copywriting, article writing,  blogging, newsletters and website writing including search engine optimisation.

Your content needs to be written concisely, logically, highlighting the benefits of your product to your potential customers.

We will work with you to optimise your unique selling points, your marketing image and your products.

We can research your content or you can supply us with content. Our research skills are well developed in both an academic and lifestyle sense.

As your virtual copywriter, we will work with you and communication will be a priority. We will consult with you, provide drafts for you to approve and finally sign-off.

The content needs to written with your voice and your intent. Ring us to discuss further.

Medical and Health Content writing

The Writing Shed has on staff a qualified health professional with many years of experience and academia.  We offer a medical copywriting and health content writing service. We can research your ideas and needs, write and edit your document for publication.

With our experience and qualifications, we are confident and competent to deal with your medical and health documents.

Newsletter

We can write your newsletter or any articles or content that you need to promote your business.

We can support you with an email software system that will allow you to program and craft your newsletter.

Your newsletter works better as education based and not selling based. Clients want to keep updated on your business, your products, your industry information and ‘special offers’. Your readers may not be ready to buy your services but they need to be kept aware of your business so they can contact you when they need.

Blogs

Read some of our blogs on blogs. Blogs are a great way to educate clients and people love reading them. They are new, innovative and can be as creative as you want.

Contact us today  info@thewritingshed.com.au     M: 0407 487 495

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