... amicably
Examples of letters making complaints
with examples of letters of reply to them concerning:
incorrect delivery of order
faulty manufacture of goods
faulty machinery/equipment
breach of agreement
Follow-ups ... Manager
The Layout ofBusiness Letters
Specimen Letters (1), (2) and (3) illustrate three very common - but quite different - layouts
of business letters.
/ Indentation
Specimen Letter (1) is ‘indented’, ... a
business letter is free from the possibility of ambiguity or misunderstanding. It the reader of a
business letter cannot understand, or misunderstands or misinterprets, the meaning of a letter,
serious...
... latest models of laser
printers have arrived.
You-attitude: The latest models of laser printers are now available for you.
3. Positive emphasis
To create goodwill in all kinds ofbusiness messages, ... following examples of gender-neutral language :
Avoid using compounds containing man in all business writing. Study the following
words with man and the recommended version without man:
businessman ... Some Golden Rules ofBusiness Writing
1. Remember your reader
The style you choose depends on the relationship you already...
... AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
571Section 3 SampleBusiness Documents
REQUEST LETTERS
A request letter is written to seek information, permission, or an explana-
tion. This type ofletter should ... Handbook ofBusiness Writing
557Section 3 SampleBusiness Documents
REFUSAL LETTER
A refusal letter is written to deny a request, decline an invitation, or reply
negatively to a suggestion. When writing ... Analytical Research Report
574 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
(Courtesy of the National Institutes of Health)
560 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
■ May contain tables and graphs and can...
... The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Figure 3.42 Newsletter
(Courtesy of the U.S. General Services Administration)
489Section 3 SampleBusiness Documents
■ The content and format, varying depending ... 509Section 3 SampleBusiness Documents
At corporate meetings the following actions will normally be approved by
the board of directors:
■ Election of officers of the corporation
■ New business policies ... danger notices should alert readers of
any possibility of hurting themselves or damaging equipment.
496 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
499Section 3 SampleBusiness Documents
Most introductions...
... Handbook ofBusiness Writing
468 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
COLLECTION LETTER
Collection letters are written to collect amounts owed on a past-due
account. When writing a collection letter, ... overall elements of the business plan document include:
■ Cover sheet
■ Statement of purpose
■ Table of contents
■ Description of the business
442 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Figure 3.10 ... Annual Report Letter from the Chairman
(Courtesy of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
451Section 3 SampleBusiness Documents
BUSINESS LETTER
The parts of a businessletter are (Figure...
... inconsistent due to the length of the content.
■ Footnotes should be included at the end of the table.
390 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Figure 2.11 Table of Contents Page Example
CONTENTS
Section ... your business three benefits
[summative modifier] that can enhance the productivity of any
business.
Superlative
A superlative is a type of adjective or adverb that depicts something that is
of ... an action is required.
Example: Mom said we must clean the kitchen.
Should of
See Might of, Should of, Would of, Could of.
Should, Would
Use should with the first person and would with the second...
... such as to have.
308 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Person
Person involves the use of pronouns used as subjects of a sentence or clause.
Categories of person include:
■ First person singular—The ... case of the
pronoun that would be appropriate if the noun were not there.
Example: We teachers are demanding a raise.
314 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Parts of Speech
The eight parts of ... not numbered. A first page of a work or of a chapter is not
marked with a number, although the numbering of the following pages takes
into consideration the number of the first page.
It is acceptable...
... kind of flowers.
Correct: She asked for those kinds of flowers.
Correct: She asked for that kind of flower.
Kind of, Sort of
Kind of and sort of are unclear. Be definite when speaking or writing.
Incorrect: ... Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Imperative Mood
Imperative mood is an attitude in writing or speaking that involves giving
directives, orders, or strong suggestions.
Example: Get out of my office!
Example: ... Lists.
Inside of, Within
Don’t use inside of where you could use within.
Incorrect: He will visit us inside of a week.
Correct: He will visit us within a week.
242 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
...
... desperate fix.
Correct: She is desperate because of her present situation.
200 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
When writing the numerical form of hundredths or thousandths, add zeros as
place ... Figuratively.
Figure of Speech
A figure of speech is a form of expression where a word or words are used
to convey something different from their literal meaning.
198 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
... equations use mathematical symbols and letters of the alpha-
bet to define conditions of equality, to indicate true or false, or to identify
something. Letters of the alphabet are used to represent...
... nuclear-free
off-color pre-engineered president-elect
self-doubts self-esteem stand-in
time-out water-resistant
138 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
Capital Letters
Capital letters are used ... are often used in the creation of a new business document. Cited
sources appear within the text and in a reference list at the end of the doc-
ument.
■ Within the text, insert the last name of ... the constitution of any nation
Corporations
■ American Brake Corporation
■ Container Corporation of America
■ But: The corporation was dissolved.
108 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
C
Call...
... phrases are often treated
as parenthetical elements set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma
or a pair of commas.
Absolutely
The term absolutely should not be used in formal writing.
Incorrect: ... analyse
paralyze paralyse
72 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
A backslash (\) is often used in computer programming languages and to
indicate the directory structure of a computer hard drive.
Back up, ... citation [a penalty] for speeding.
76 The AMA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
An initialism is an acronym whose letters do not make a word; the letters are
pronounced individually.
Example: CBS, CIA,...
... Parts of a Business Letter, 453
Figure 3.16: Block Letter, 455
Figure 3.17: Modified Bock Letter, 456
Figure 3.18: Modified Semiblock Letter, 457
Figure 3.19: Simplified Letter, 458
Figure 3.20: Business ... it by proofreading
and revising.
BUSINESS WRITING STYLE
The overall tone of a business document, as seen through the choice of words
and commentary, reflects the writer’s attitude. Business writers ... Photographs present realistic views of a subject.
14 The A MA Handbook ofBusiness Writing
tial problems, but don’t rely on these tools in place of a thorough editing and
proofreading. During the editing...
... these resources at my disposal
- and a decade of professional writing experience - the writing sometimes seems to
happen by itself. But my way of working has an underlying structure that, I ... copywriter,
corporate communication specialist and business writer. They reflect my experience of
what works and my personal views of how businesswriting should be used within the
organisation.
The ... complex proposals. Mastery of this system will make you self-reliant, more
insightful and more effective when it comes to business writing.
Language is a powerful kind of magic. This book is an...
... products of wasted human toil (and orga-
nisational resources) probably lacked one of the crucial ingredients of good business
writing: focus.
Focus involves adjusting the scope and scale of your ... c e l .co m
Overview
of the principles ofbusiness writing
Focus
Adjust the scope and scale of your writing to influence the attitude and behavi-
our of your readers. Develop a brief and outline, ... discussing the merits of a new strategy or business case.
In short, attitude involves the heart and mind of your reader, both of which
need to be captured before your writing can be truly effective.
-...