Introduction
Everywhere we look, we see the written word: in books, in magazines, on the sides of buses, on the train, on Twitter, in emails, in texts. If we think about the sheer volume of words that we are expected to read each day, the task can seem overwhelming, but we can categorize all those words, which will help us prioritize our tasks.
In this book, we will focus on professional writing:
- What is it?
- How is it different from other types of writing?
- What exactly will I learn in this book?
These are important questions.
How Is Professional Writing Different from Other Types of Writing?
One of the best ways to understand what professional writing is by understanding what it’s not.
Professional Writing Is Not Creative Writing
The many forms of creative writing—-memoirs, novels, short stories, poems, graphic novels, movie scripts—-have several things in common. Their primary goal is not to provide the sort of information that will help a reader complete a task. Instead, a creative work is meant to have an emotional impact that allows the reader to share the writer’s artistic vision. We read creative works for the simple pleasure of enjoying the writer’s art. Creative writing does not have to justify its existence. Professional writing does.
Professional Writing Is Informational
You may think that it is the subject matter that determines whether a piece of writing is informational or creative, but it’s not. We can write about the same topic both creatively and informatively. For example, let’s say we are writing about cats. Here is a passage from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:
[Alice] was a little startled by seeing the Cheshire Cat sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards off. The cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-natured, she thought: still it had very long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt it ought to be treated with respect.
“Cheshire Puss,” she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name; however, it only grinned a little wider. “Come, it’s pleased so far,” thought Alice, and she went on. “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a great deal of where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where—” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.” (Carroll 1869, 89–90)
The subject matter of this passage is a request for directions from Alice to the Cat. However, as Alice and the Cat are both fictional characters, and cats do not talk, we know this is from a fictional story. Now let’s look at another way of writing about cats:
Dear Tenant,
One of your neighbors told me that they saw a cat sitting in your apartment window. While Green Acres apartment complex is pet-friendly, those tenants who keep pets must pay a pet deposit. According to my records, yours has not been paid. If you intend to keep the cat, please bring me a one-time payment of $250, and expect your rent to increase by $15 a month. You must make your payment by the last day of the month.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call me or drop by the office.
Sincerely,
Mary Larry 111-111-1111
This message was sent from an apartment manager to a tenant via email. Clearly, the message is not fictional. The sender is addressing a real-world problem that requires a real solution. This is an example of professional writing.
Now that you know what professional communication is, let’s talk about its purpose.
What Are Some Examples of Professional Writing?
Professional writing is typically divided into three categories:
Instructional
To tell someone how to do something
Informational
To provide information about a specific subject
Persuasive
To persuade someone to take a desired action
- Proposals
- Press Releases
- Advertisements
- Memos requesting your cooperation
Examples of types of professional writing that can occur in any of these categories include
- Letters
- Emails
- Texts
- Memos
- Handbooks
- Reports
- Agendas
- Press releases
- Newsletters
While all of these are important forms of professional communication, we will be focusing on those written forms of professional communication you will use most often:
- Emails
- Memos
- Short reports
However, the principles you will learn are applicable to all type of professional communication, and in the next course, 2700—Advanced Professional Communication, we will practice writing longer documents: instructions, proposals, formal reports, and job materials.
Why Do You Need to Know How to Write Professionally?
According to an article published in Inc.,
Businesses are spending billions each year on remedial writing training, and in a modern workplace that requires employees to spend hours each day sending emails, writing reports, and interacting with clients, weak writing skills can be a major hindrance to business growth (not to mention the damage poor writing skills can do to public perception of a business’s brand.)
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73.4% of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills. Written communication was the number three most desired quality overall, behind leadership skills and ability to work as a team member.
While much of the modern educational system puts a focus on STEM education (that’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), it seems that now, more than ever, it’s writing that is becoming the sought-after skill in the hiring market. (Moore 2016)
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Tip |
73.4 percent of employers value employees with strong written communication skills |
You might have chosen this book because you had to, but we hope these statistics have proven how essential writing is to your professional success. It’s easy for everyone to list “good communication skills,” on their resume without providing any proof, but after reading this book, you will have documented evidence of your skills as a writer! We have written this text so that you can easily find information.
Look for these study aids:
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Tip |
This is for tips that can add to comprehension of the subject matter. |
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Note |
Every time you see this icon, you’ll know we are providing you with an example of a concept we’ve been discussing. Examples like this help your brain hardwire the concepts. |
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Important |
When you see this icon, you’ll know we’re providing a clue for success. |
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Caution |
Grammar gremlins are everywhere, so look to this icon for quick explanations about annoying grammar gripes and how to solve them. |
Each module includes four sections:
Learn
In this section, we provide the information you need to complete the rest of the sections in the module.
Assess
You won’t know if you’ve learned what you’ve read until you test yourself. Each chapter has a quiz that will let you do this.
Engage
The best way to learn is by sharing your ideas with others. These discussion activities let you practice the skills being taught in the module and get feedback from your classmates.
Apply
The best way to learn to write is by writing. Each module includes a writing task that we will evaluate so you can get constructive criticism.
