As business owners, we need to value and maintain good writing skills. Leading with a transparent, clear message and precise, memorable sentences is likely to grow your business.

• Express the singular point or idea the customer should know and understand. Writing concisely, as if sharing with a new friend, can generate new customers and sustain existing customers.

• Including adverbs—“very”, “actually”, “really”, “quickly”, “extremely” and more—in writing may be tempting. The same is said of adjectives. Shorter, compelling sentences, lean content and increased clarity await the customer when adverbs and adjectives are absent.

• If you love to write, be cautious about falling in love with your writing, with your own words. Rather than focusing on the quality of content, focus more so on the quality of your writing as adding value to the written piece.

• Be brief. Said Shakespeare, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

• Protect your credibility. Always use spelling and grammar checking tools.

• Writing is a process. It is best done in a flow. Once ideas and thoughts are fully expressed, it is time to edit.

Mark Twain reminds us to “use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. Stick to it; don’t let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in.”

Eve Hady and Stephanie Parker are the Accurate Wordsmith. Connect with them at 520-955-2468 or 520-444-9189, [email protected] or [email protected].