Online Class: Business Writing

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
19Lessons
-
41Exams &
Assignments -
4,691Students
have taken this course -
19Hours
average time -
1.9CEUs
Course Description
This crash course in business communication may help remedy your writing woes. From the basic do's and don'ts of business communication to the nitty-gritty of formatting, punctuation, tone and language--this course covers all the fundamentals. As a one stop guide to a professional's writing career, the class is ideal for assistants, secretaries, executives, managers, and senior managers of any company or organization. Learn about the common mistakes we make when writing a business letter. Learn how often people mistake 'affect' for 'effect', and 'except' for 'accept'. Learn about how to write business emails.
Manage Your Writing: How Bad Business Writing Is Bad for Your Business

If your business writing is rich in content but fails to involve the reader, is not written well, or does not convey your intended message, you have failed in your business communication. Similarly, if your business writing is accurate and professional but lacks content, clarity, and facts, then you have also missed the communication objective.
The Seven Cs of Business Communication
- Clear: Clarity is paramount in any kind of business writing. Not only should you be clear about the message you want to convey but also ensure that it is completely understood by your audience. A good place to begin would be by asking yourself these three questions: What is the purpose of writing this document? Who is the reader? What action do I want the reader to take after reading this document? These questions will help you focus on your content and avoid straying from the point.
- Concise: Brevity is the heart of writing. Ensure that your documents are short and sweet. Wordy business correspondence is not only annoying and distracting, but time-consuming for both the writer and reader. Remember, the reader is a professional like you, who has a busy day ahead, so do not waste their time. Keep your content short and simple.
- Correct: Written communication says a lot about the writer. If a business letter has spelling mistakes, typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation problems, the impression one gets is that the writer is incompetent and unprofessional. So make sure you review and revise your work before sending it out.
- Courteous: A business letter is a professional document; hence, you have to ensure the tone is always courteous and polite. You should never come across as being rude or angry. Similarly, racist, sexist and derogatory remarks must be strictly avoided in all business writing. Also, while writing a business letter, make sure that the spelling of the name and title of the receiver is correct.
- Conversational: Your business communication should sound personal and professional. Many company communications do not involve the reader. To keep your audience from being alienated, keep your tone crisp and chatty.
- Convincing: Business writing must have accurate information supported with relevant content to convince the reader to take action. Ultimately, your aim is to convince the reader to do something. So, present your case, support it with reason, and request an action.
- Complete: Always review and revise your business writing before sending it off. Go back and review those three questions you asked initially. If you are satisfied that you have covered all of them, go ahead and send out your e-mail or letter.
- Too many words: Often people use more words than are required to get the point across. There is little or no editing and the sentences can stretch on for miles.
- Frequent and unnecessary use of jargon and clichés: People often use jargon and outdated clichés in their business writing. They believe that by using such terms, their writing looks professional. However, such words have the opposite effect and tend to alienate the reader.
- Punctuation mistakes: Even though people believe that they have a good grasp of their language, they often end up making punctuation mistakes. The use of commas, periods, colons, semicolons, and quotation marks is often wrong.
- Grammar mistakes: You might be very good with the language, but more often than not, business communication falls prey to grammatical mistakes. Pay close attention to grammar. If you are not sure, find help.
- Spelling mistakes. Inattention to detail and lack of revision ends up in a document riddled with spelling mistakes; this lends an unprofessional impression to your writing. There is absolutely no excuse for spelling mistakes with the spelling check programs available.
- Overuse of flowery language: Big words and complicated sentences do not show that you are an intelligent person. Business writing should be crisp and simple. It has to sound professional and like a normal one-on-one conversation.
- Too many negative expressions: Business writing should always have a positive tone. Instead of stressing what you cannot do, give the reader options of what you can do.
- No clarity: Use of vague expressions and a noncommittal stand can confuse the reader. Be clear and specific in your message, and readers will understand the action you will take.
- Condescending tone and sexist language: Your business communication should not offend or hurt anyone. Use a polite and warm tone, use neutral terms, and avoid reference to race, sex, and class.
- Inaccurate information and no attention to details: If your business writing comes across as sloppy and with inaccurate information, it will never be taken seriously. Cross-check all the information you provide in your business writing to ensure accuracy.

Are you looking for a way to advance your career and improve your professional marketability?
- Lesson 1: Manage Your Writing: How Bad Business Writing Is Bad For Your Business
- Lesson 2: Getting Started on Business Writing
- Lesson 3: Making the Message Accessible to the Reader
- Lesson 4: Spelling and Punctuation in Business Writing
- Lesson 5: Determining the Tone of Your Communication
- Lesson 6: Be Politically Correct - How to Avoid Discriminatory Language in Business Communications
- Lesson 7: Business Writing for Special Purposes
- Lesson 8: Anatomy of a Perfect Email
As you complete the lessons, you will learn the keys to successful written communication. Lessons 1-3 will introduce you to the process of business writing and will help you recognize what can go right and what can go wrong. These lessons will also teach you how to reach out to your reader effectively.
Lessons 4 and 5 will help you brush up on the basics of spelling and punctuation (all those things you don’t remember from your high school English class) and teach you how to adapt your voice depending on the situation and the audience.
Finally, Lessons 6-8 will help you avoid using offensive language and tone and teach you how to tailor your writing for different purposes.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Manage Your Writing: How Bad Business Writing Is Bad For Your Business
Lesson 1 Video
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment: Introduce Yourself
Complete: Lesson 1 Quiz
Lesson 2: Getting Started in Business Writing
Lesson 2 Video
Take Poll: Why are you taking this course?
Complete: Lesson 2: Assignment: Proposal
Complete: Lesson 2 Quiz
Lesson 3: Making the Message Accessible to the Reader
Lesson 3 Video
Review Article: Tips for Formatting Business Documents
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment: Start-Up Sheet
Complete: Lesson 3 Quiz
Lesson 4: Spelling and Punctuation in Business Writing
Lesson 4 Video
Complete: Lesson 4 Quiz
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam: Verbs
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam: Spelling
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam: Periods
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam: Punctuation 1
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam: Punctuation 2
Lesson 5: Determining the Tone of Your Communication
Lesson 5 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: OpeningandClosingPhrasesforBusinessWriting.doc
Review 2 Articles: Increasing Vocabulary Tips; Appropriate Tone
Complete: Lesson 5 Assignment: Tone
Complete: Lesson 5 Quiz
Lesson 6: Be Politically Correct - How to Avoid Discriminatory Language in Business Communications
Lesson 6 Video
Complete: Lesson 6 Assignment
Complete: Lesson 6 Quiz
Lesson 7: Business Writing for Special Purposes
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Assignment 7-1: Sympathy Letter
Complete: Assignment 7-2: Resignation Letter
Complete: Assignment 7-3 Complaint Letter
Complete: Lesson 7 Quiz
Lesson 8: Business Letters
Lesson 8 Video
Review Article: The Basic Business Letter
Complete Assignment: Lesson 8: Practice Exercise
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam
Lesson 9: Business Memos
Lesson 9 Video
Review 2 Articles: Business Memos; Business Memo Formatting
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment: Practice Exercise
Complete: Lesson 9 Exam
Lesson 10: Personal Business Notes
Lesson 10 Video
Review Article: Business Thank You Note Examples
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment A: Business Notes Writing
Complete: Lesson 10 Exam
Lesson 11: Anatomy of a Perfect E-mail
Lesson 11 Video
Complete: Lesson 11 Assignment
Complete: Assignment 11-1: Meeting Email
Complete: Lesson 11 Quiz
Complete: Lesson 11 Exam Addition
Lesson 12: Business E-mails and E-mail Etiquette
Lesson 12 Video
Review Article: Samples: Tips for Email Etiquette
Complete: Lesson 12 Assignment: Email Writing
Complete: Lesson 12 Exam
Lesson 13: Resumes
Lesson 13 Video
Review 2 Articles: Sample Resumes; Resumes and Cover Letters
Complete Assignment: Lesson 13: Resume Formats
Complete: Lesson 13 Exam
Lesson 14: Application Letters
Lesson 14 Video
Complete: Lesson 14 Assignment: Application Letter Writing
Complete: Lesson 14 Exam
Lesson 15: Proofreading and Editing
Lesson 15 Video
Complete: Lesson 15 Exam
Lesson 16: Three Writing Rules
Lesson 16 Video
Review 3 Articles: Business Writing: 7 Phrases to Ban; Business Writing Rules; Split Infinitives
Complete: Lesson 16 Exam
Lesson 17: Writing Rules
Lesson 17 Video
Review Article: 5 Business Writing Mistakes
Complete: Lesson 17 Exam
Lesson 18: Additional Punctuation
Lesson 18 Video
Review 2 Articles: Mandatory Style Vs Optional Style; Punctuation Basics for Business Writers
Complete: Lesson 18 Exam
Lesson 19: Writing Resources
Lesson 19 Video
Take Poll: Your Opinion Matters: Course Rating
Take Survey: Samples: Course Comments
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: Lesson 19 Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Describe ways to manage your business writing.
- Describe editing tools used to making your message more accessible to the reader.
- Summarize basic spelling and punctuation rules.
- Describe what your tone should be in business writing.
- Describe how to be politically correct in your business writing.
- Demonstrate acceptable methods for writing business letters.
- Demonstrate acceptable methods for writing business memos.
- Demonstrate how to write acceptable business emails and proper email etiquette.
- Demonstrate how to correctly write and format resumes and application letters.
- Describe the three major writing rules when writing for business, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Student Testimonials
- "What was most helpful was the assignments graded by the instructor, it is the most detailed in all the classes I was taking. Good job." -- Wei W.
- "The instructor was excellent and very knowledgeable. This was a review of everything that I took in college. Sometimes you become too relaxed with your writing and this course made me realize this." -- Dorothy D.
- "I have always needed help with my grammar. I have bookmarked all of the links provided in this course." -- Cheryl C.
- "The practice exercises were most valuable. Thank you!" -- Billie P.
- "The instructor was very nice and quick at checking my work and getting back to me. I liked the way everything was broken down. The different chapters on pieces of writing was helpful." -- Aryn K.
- "The lesson on tone of writing seemed to be most helpful for me." -- Jennie B.
- "Every part of the course was helpful!" -- Ann W.
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