The Business Style Handbook, Second Edition: An A-to-Z Guide for Effective Writing on the Job

Introduction
Writing: a core competency
How to meet the standard
1. Fortune 500 Survey Results
It matters
Guidelines, with caveats
The content explosion
Influence of technology
How employees are writing
When you need a stylebook
Stylebooks used by companies’ professional writers
Coping with lag time
Strong views on buzzwords
Preferred dictionaries
How it all adds up
2. Why Style Matters
Language is dynamic
Writing that gets the job done
Take charge
Pulling it together
3. The Case for Standards
Time for companies to invest in the users
Create a standard
Win employee buy-in
4. Write WITH Purpose
Have a goal
Know your audience
Write and think at the same time
Use the right language
Keep it short . . . most of the time
Make longer documents user-friendly
Get right to the point
Take the credit
Shift the emphasis
Take a stand
Think about point of view
Keep a tight timeframe
Strengthen your professional brand
Review everything
Make it look good
Budget your time
5. Email: Before You Hit Send
Write smartphone-friendly emails
Choose the right style
Be cautious with content
When to use email, and when not to
Use cc, bcc and Reply to All appropriately
Make it easy on your reader
Be formal in formal email
Be appropriate with greetings
Sign off
Be smart about email
The A-to-Z Entries
Sources We Like
Notes
Bibliography
List of Fortune 500 Companies

Revised and updated for the newest digital platforms—the classic guide to business writing style and protocols

While retaining all the valuable information that has made The Business Style Handbook a modern classic, the second edition provides new words, phrases and guidance to help you express yourself clearly, confidently and correctly on any digital platform.

New to this edition:

Updated A-to-Z section with 250 new entries Best practices for email in a world of portable devices Insights from communications executives at global companies

Praise for The Business Style Handbook

“This may be the handiest and clearest book of tips on basic business writing I’ve read in a long time.”
—Pam Robinson, cofounder, the American Copy Editors Society

“An excellent primer on how to communicate effectively in a business setting.”
—Michael Barry, vice president, media relations, Insurance Information Institute

“This book is especially helpful for people when English is their second language. I recommend it to all my business classes.”
—Elizabeth Xu, Ph.D., author, executive mentor and leadership class instructor, Stanford University

“You never want poor writing to get in the way of what you’re saying. . . . This style guide is a valuable resource to help ensure that the quality of your writing differentiates you.”
—Bart Mosley, principal and chief investment officer, Alprion Capital Management LP