Business Writing

Write emails, memos, and reports people read and act on

Why It Matters

Unclear writing creates rework. A vague email triggers three follow-up questions, a buried request gets missed, and a dense report sits unread. Across an organization, these delays add up to slower decisions and frustrated stakeholders. In public-sector and nonprofit settings, plain writing also affects whether constituents and partners understand what is being asked of them. Strong writers save time for everyone downstream and are trusted with higher-visibility work.

Course Description

Each participant brings a recent piece of their own writing, and that draft becomes the main workbench. Work begins with purpose and reader: what does this person need to know or do? Participants then practice putting the main point first, writing subject lines that signal action, and organizing longer content with headings and lists. A plain-language segment focuses on shorter sentences, active voice, and replacing jargon. Editing drills show how to cut a draft by a third without losing meaning. Peer review in pairs gives specific feedback on clarity and tone. Participants finish by revising their original draft, comparing before and after, and building a personal checklist to use on future emails, memos, and reports.

Key Focus Areas

Participants explore and practice:

Defining purpose and reader before writing
Bottom-line-up-front structure for emails and memos
Plain language: short sentences, active voice, everyday words
Subject lines and headings that guide the reader
Editing for length, clarity, and tone
Organizing short reports and summaries

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

Draft emails and memos that state the main point and request up front
Revise a document using plain-language techniques
Edit a draft to remove unnecessary words without losing meaning
Structure a short report with clear headings and a summary
Apply a personal editing checklist to future writing

Who Should Attend

Professional and program staff
Administrative professionals
Supervisors who write reports and updates
Government and nonprofit employees
Emerging professionals

Delivery and Customization

Examples, scenarios, and activities are adapted to your audience and goals. Delivery is available in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format, as a standalone session or as part of a series. Format and length are agreed during scoping.

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Bring Business Writing to your team

Tell us about your audience and goals. We will follow up to scope objectives, format, and timing.

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