When you're fumbling for words and pressed for time, you might be tempted to dismiss good business writing as a nicety. But it's a skill you must cultivate to succeed: You'll lose time, money, and influence if your e-mails, proposals and other important documents fail to win people over. "DON'T LET YOUR WRITING HOLD YOU BACK. When you're fumbling for words and pressed for time, you might be tempted to dismiss good business writing as a luxury. But it's a skill you must cultivate to succeed: You'll lose time, money, and influence if your e-mails, proposals, and other important documents fail to win people over. The "HBR Guide to Better Business Writing," by writing expert Bryan A. Garner, gives you the tools you need to express your ideas clearly and persuasively so clients, colleagues, stakeholders, and partners will get behind them. This book will help you (1) push past writer's block; (2) grab--and keep--readers' attention; (3) earn credibility with tough audiences; (4) trim the fat from your writing; (5) strike the right tone; and (6) brush up on grammar, punctuation, and usage."--Publisher's description.

Introduction: why you need to write well -- Delivering the goods quickly and clearly. Know why you're writing -- Understand your readers -- Divide the writing process into four separate tasks -- Before writing in earnest, jot down your three main points--inc complete sentences -- Write in full--rapidly -- Improve what you've written -- Use graphics to illustrate and clarify -- Developing your skills. Be relentlessly clear -- Learn to summarize--accurately -- Waste no words -- Be plain-spoken: avoid bizspeak -- Use chronology when given a factual account -- Be a stickler for continuity -- Learn the basics of correct grammar -- Get feedback on you drafts from colleagues -- Avoiding the quirks that turn readers off. Don't anesthetize your reader -- Watch your tone -- Common forms of business writing. E-mails -- Business letters -- Memos and reports -- Performance appraisals -- Appendixes. A.A checklist for the four stages of writing -- B.A dozen grammatical rules you absolutely need to know -- C.A dozen punctuation rules you absolutely need to know -- D. Common usage gaffes -- E. Some dos and don't of business-writing etiquette -- F.A primer of good usage.