Why Good Writing Skills Matter

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(No Transcript)
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• It may be the age of the Internet and
  140-character messages, but strong writing skills
  and basic English grammar still matter. Believe
  me, they will make a difference in achieving many
  of your life goals.

Success in college depends on coherent writing
skills, whatever your major, and especially if
you aspire to become a professional writer.
Access to the college of your choice is more
likely if you put effort into building your
writing skills and can make a polished written
case for why you should be admitted.
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• Most jobs require writing skills, and the better
  yours are, the more likely you will be first in
  line for the next chance to advance your career
  or qualify for a raise.
• Studies show that better writing skills increase
  your credibility. Carefully written communication
  conveys a sense of responsibility and shows you
  care about getting things right.1
• If your job has the word writer in the title,
  or even journalist, you will be held to a
  higher standard, and must have polished skills.

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• You take some care in how you dress and groom
  yourself for the workplace, because you know it
  affects how people perceive you and your work.
• Writing has the same effect, so make sure
  everything you share with coworkers, clients, and
  supervisors is as polished as your look.
• Start by using your computers built-in
  spell-check tool, then go over your document
  again to check sentence grammar.

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• Language and writing skills in early education
  are the foundation of all future learning.
• Show your child the fun of forming letters and
  writing small notes to friends and family at
  home.
•  Build skills early with books for each stage of
  development. Read to them and with them, and as
  they become more proficient, let them read to
  you.

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• Careless writing seems rushed, distracting from
  the message you want to communicate.
• LinkedIn member profiles examined over a ten-year
  period showed that those who made 45 more
  grammatical errors were promoted one to four
  times, while those who made fewer were promoted
  six to nine times.2
• For help polishing a resume, document, and more,
  call on a professional copy editor like The
  Sentence Doctor to give your writing more impact.

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• If you own a small business or hope to develop
  one, your future could depend on your ability to
  communicate in writing.
• Less is more in business writing. Be concise and
  learn to convey ideas in a straightforward, clear
  style.
• Quote hard facts and figures to make a case, for
  example, to present a business plan. Double and
  triple check your sources, and document them to
  demonstrate your works authenticity.

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1. Get to the point. In the business world, no one
   has time to wade through text to find a kernel of
   information.
2. Construct sentences in the active rather than
   passive voice whenever possible. Passive voice
   weakens the idea you want to convey, diluting the
   substance.
3. Write to your audience. Think about the intended
   reader(s) and gear your writing voice
   accordingly. An email to a colleague or peer can
   use a much more casual tone than one to a
   potential client.

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• As with any essential skill, writing should be
  practiced and maintained throughout life. It can
  always be improved and will reward your effort on
  many levels. Good, fundamental writing will
  enable you to
• Express your inner self, helping you refine and
  clarify your thinking.
• Retain your ideas to go back and revisit later.
• Explain complicated thoughts to others.
• Stand out in a competitive work environment.

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• Need another pair of eyes to make your writing
  clear and stylistically excellent? Thats the job
  of Phyllis Wooten, the Sentence Doctor. She is
  dedicated to perfecting your writing at
  reasonable cost.
• Contact her for help composing a resume, e-book,
  and more at thesentencedoctor_at_gmail.com. Visit
  the web site, www.sentencedoctor.com for more
  information.

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1. http//smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-good-wri
   ting-skills-workplace-10931.html
2. http//business.time.com/2013/04/19/good-writing-c
   an-help-you-succeed/

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Summary

• When you need to communicate in writing at school
  or work, through instant message, email, or in a
  more formal document, your writing skills
  determine how you are perceived at the other end.