In this issue
	Choose a Name Competition Concept of my e-newsletter Seven deadly sins of business writing This month's quiz And finally ...

Concept of my e-newsletter

Through my training programmes, I realise that many people are interested in improving their business writing skills, but most people think that learning about business writing will be boring. So I am going to try to make my e-newsletters interesting, topical and worthy of a few minutes of your precious time each month. My first thoughts are that I will include an article on some point of interest (ie me on my soapbox!), a feature about some common writing problems, and finally a quiz. I guess the e-newsletter concept will evolve over time, and I will be happy to receive your thoughts on what you want me to include in future issues. Please send your suggestions to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. Help yourself to improve YOUR writing skills ... »

Seven deadly sins of business writing

An article of mine was featured recently in a newspaper in India, and I was surprised and delighted to receive such a huge response - over 100 people from India wrote to me to ask for more details about my books on business writing and communications. I'm pleased to be able to include all my new friends in India on the mailing list of my new e-newsletter. I hope you will forward it on to your colleagues and friends, and encourage them to sign up to receive future issues. In view of the interest in this article, I thought I would reproduce it here so that everyone else can see what all the fuss is about. So for my thoughts on the seven deadly sins of business writing today, please read on ... Business today is being conducted in a very informal way - in meetings and conferences we are using a natural, informal, more relaxed language, rather than stilted, formal language that was used several decades ago. So how come many people are still using business writing that is more suited to our great-grandfathers rather than 21st Century businessmen and women? Continue reading the article "Seven deadly sins of business writing today" ... »

This month's quiz

I'm going to feature a quiz each month, testing you on some aspect of business writing. This month it's back to basics - modern business writing. Here are some sentences written in old-fashioned business jargon with lots of standard clichÈs (yes, some people still write in this style!) Rewrite them using modern business language (answers next month): We refer to your letter dated on July 8th, 2002 pertaining to the above. I should be glad if you would advise me when we can meet to discuss this matter. We refer to the meeting between your goodself and the undersigned on even date. The above-mentioned goods will be despatched to you today. As per our discussion earlier, I would appreciate if you could e-mail us the contact number and address of your agent in Malaysia. We spoke this morning regarding your complaint concerning your recent order. We would appreciate if you could kindly revert back to me on this matter soonest. Kindly make arrangements for the above-stated items to be collected from our office any day between 8.30am to 3.00pm. Kindly confirm by filling up the form attached hereto and it should be returned to me latest by 21 December (Monday). Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. Check out my books on business communication ... »

And finally ...

Well, that's your lot for November. I hope you've enjoyed this first issue of "Shirley's ....." what? You decide! Please write to me at news@shirleytaylor.com and send me your suggestion(s) for a name for my e-newsletter. I'd also love to hear from you with your comments on my first e-newletter, plus any thoughts you may have on what you would like me to include in future issues. Just a quick reminder - if you haven't already done so, please click on edit below so that you can edit your contact details and tell me what sort of messages you wish to receive from me in the future. TIP OF THE MONTH Your writing reflects an impression of YOU. Make sure it's a good one! See you again in December for issue 2 of ..... watch this space! Shirley PS: You may reprint this e-newsletter or forward it to your customers and colleagues. However please keep this copyright and contact information intact: Copyright Shirley Taylor 2002. Shirley Taylor is author of several popular books on effective communication and business writing. She lives in Singapore and works as an international trainer, seminar leader, professional writer and conference speaker. Visit http://www.shirleytaylor.com. Shirley's Photo Gallery ... »