A Practical Guide To Business Writing: Writing In English For Non-Native Speakers

Chapter 4

Common Writing Errors

In this chapter we point out some common writing errors that occur most frequently in the workplace by giving real-life examples of poor writing and showing how these might be improved.

As you proceed through the following examples, you will discover how to avoid these common writing errors at work and make your writing strong and appealing to your readers. Also, you will find comments following each example which make you aware of the writing errors and how to revise them in a better and effective way.

The key point to writing effectively is practice. If this is an area you really need to work hard on, I suggest you write a lot of memos and e-mails and let someone edit them to show you how you can improve them.

Example 1

Original

MEMORANDUM
To:	All Employees
From:	Security Manager
Date:	June 4, 20xx
Subject:	Company visitors’ procedures

It has recently come to my attention that there are visitors to the Company who present themselves anywhere or to anyone they choose.

It is very important that all visitors check with the receptionist on the 1^st Floor. The receptionist will contact the employee that the visitor has come to see, and the employee will go to the reception area to escort their visitor. There should be no unescorted visitors walking through ...