Six key rules of good writing for the twenty-
                    first century
    1-Come straight to the point 
       Busy business people have not got time to read 
     long-winded    (boring)  documents.    They 
     welcome  letters  that  are  direct  and  to  the 
     point-but at some time courteous. Save your 
     reader’s time by keeping your sentences short 
     and simple.  Now shorten these sentences:
  • Please be informed that our monthly management meeting 
   will be held on 28 August 200- in Training Room A.
  • Please, our monthly management meeting will be held on 
   28 August 2000.
  • Please note that the fire alarms throughout the company 
   will be tested next Tuesday 14 July 200.
  • Please, all the fire alarms of the company will be tested 
   next Tuesday 14 July.
  • I wish to advise you that Mrs. Joanna Green is no longer 
   with this department.
  • _______________________________________
  • Would you be so kind as to let me know when these goods 
   can be delivered?
  • Would you be so kind to let me know the delivered goods?
  • I would like to remind you petty cash claims 
   should now be submitted to Alvin in Account 
   Department.
  • _______________________________________
   _________________________________
  • I am writing to inform you that our company’s 
   Annual Dinner and Dance will be held on Friday 
   28 December 2000. 
  • Our company’s Annual Dinner and Dance will 
   be held on Friday 28 December
  2-Remember the KISS principle 
          Keep it short and simple- that means short 
   sentences  and  simple  words.  Don’t  try  to 
   impress (amaze) your readers with big words-
   they will not be impressed –they will just to 
   reach for the dictionary.
    Choose short words instead of these:
 • Commence = start 
 • Utilize= exploit=use
 • Terminate=finish=end
 • Purchase =buy
 • Dispatch=send=mail=post
 • Ascertain= discover= learn
 • Come to a decision = decide
 • In the event that=anyway=anyhow
 • Give consideration to= consider= think about
 • Under separate cover= envelope
 • Despite the fact that=although
 • In the near future=future=coming=imminent
 • At the present in time=now