Effective writing is what gets things done in the world of business. Luckily, the basics aren't hard to master. With these 3 simple writing rules from an award-winning copywriter, you'll present a polished image to the world...and your writing will get you results.

1. Write and Edit like a Pro
in three easy steps
Elizabeth Carter

2. Why do writing skills matter?

3. It matters to
you

4. 2/3 of salaried
employees have
writing
responsibilities.
-- College Board 2004 survey

5. Employers rank
communication
skills
most important.
-- College Board 2004 survey

6. 50% of employers look at
writing skills
when hiring and promoting.
-- NACE 2008 Job Outlook Survey

7. It matters to
your
reader

8. Do
Feel
Learn
You want your reader to…

9. Good writing helps
• You
• Your reader
• Your bosses, your
colleagues, and your
organization

10. How to
write

11. How to
edit

12. Be Brief.
Be Bold.
Be
Clear.
To be effective…

13. Be Brief.
Which would you rather read?
Fixing loose and overhanging skin with an
abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck”
A common sequelae of child-rearing, weight gain, or previous
abdominal surgeries is loose and overhanging skin and fat in the
mid and lower abdomen. Many women who have had children
have experienced a significant weakening of the abdominal wall as
well as seeing the physical signs of skin stretching (striae) and loose
skin. An abdominoplasty or “tummy-tuck” is a surgical procedure
designed to correct and reverse the physical signs of previous
pregnancies, weight loss/gain, or previous abdominal surgery. This
procedure takes approximately two and a half hours and is
performed under anesthesia and patients go home the same day.
Down-time is approximately 2-3 weeks and most patients are back
doing their usual activities in approximately eight weeks. Often
times liposuction may be performed concurrently. Patients who
have undergone this surgery regain the contour of their abdomen
and may even lose several inches in their waistline!! For people
who have tried diet and exercise, and still have that overhanging
bulge in their abdominal regions, a tummy-tuck may be right for
them.
Fix loose skin with a tummy tuck
It’s not fair: child-bearing, weight gain or abdominal surgeries can change the
way we look – giving us stretch marks, weakened stomach muscles and loose,
overhanging skin and fat in the belly. If this sounds like you, a tummy tuck may
be the answer.
What’s a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck, or “abdominoplasty”, is surgery that corrects and reverses the
physical signs of pregnancies, weight loss/gain, or previous abdominal surgery.
We may also perform liposuction at the same time, to give you better results.
Your body will need two to three weeks to rest and recover. By about eight
weeks, you’ll be back to your usual self – with a much better look.
This procedure takes about 2 ½ hours and is performed under anesthesia in a
hospital or surgical center. You’ll go home the same day.
What results can I expect?
A tummy tuck will give you back the contours of your stomach. You might even
lose several inches in their waistline!
If you’ve tried diet and exercise and still have that overhanging bulge in your
belly, a tummy-tuck may be right for you.

14. Be Brief.
1. Shorten paragraphs.

15. Be Brief.
Shorten paragraphs
instead of try
In spite of the fact that numerous
communications have been sent
by our company regarding
implementing cost cutting
measures, these measures have
not always been utilized, which is a
little bit frustrating. The
employees that are seasonal,
however, have demonstrated great
ingenuity and resourcefulness and
overhead has been lowered by
28%, which is very good. It is a big
lesson to each and every one of us.
In spite of the fact that numerous
communications have been sent by
our company regarding implementing
cost cutting measures, these measures
have not always been utlized, which is
a little bit frustrating.
The employees that are seasonal,
however, have demonstrated great
ingenuity and resourcefulness and
overhead has been lowered by 28%,
which is very good.
It is a big lesson to each and every one
of us.

16. Be Brief.
1. Shorten paragraphs.
2. Shorten sentences.

17. Be Brief.
Shorten sentences
instead of
In spite of the fact
that
The employees that
are seasonal.
It is a lesson to each
and every one of us.
try
Although
The seasonal
employees.
It is a lesson to us
all.

18. Be Brief.
Shorten sentences
from to
In spite of the fact that numerous
communications have been sent by
our company regarding implementing
cost cutting measures, these
measures have not always been
utilized, which is a little bit
frustrating.
The employees that are seasonal,
however, have demonstrated great
ingenuity and resourcefulness and
overhead has been lowered by 28%,
which is very good.
It is a big lesson to each and every
one of us.
Although numerous
communications have been sent by
us about cutting costs, these
measures have not always been
utilized. This is a little bit
frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have demonstrated great ingenuity
and resourcefulness. Their
overhead has been lowered by 28%,
which is very good.
It is a big lesson to us all.

19. Be Brief.
1. Shorten paragraphs.
2. Shorten sentences.
3. Shorten words.

20. Be Brief.
Shorten words
instead of
numerous
communications
It is a lesson to us all
try
many
emails
It’s a lesson to us all

21. Be Brief.
Shorten words
from to
Although many emails have been
sent by us about cutting costs, these
measures haven’t always been
utilized. This is a little bit frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown great ingenuity and
resourcefulness. Their overhead has
been lowered by 28%, which is very
good.
It’s a big lesson to us all.
Although numerous
communications have been sent by
us about cutting costs, these
measures have not always been
utilized. This is a little bit
frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have demonstrated great ingenuity
and resourcefulness. Their
overhead has been lowered by
28%, which is very good.
It is a big lesson to us all.

22. CUT
30
Be Brief.
bonus tip:

23. Be Brief.
Be Bold.
Be
Clear.
To be effective…

24. Be Bold.
What do you want to stand out?

25. Be Bold.
1. Eliminate weak modifiers.

26. Be Bold.
Eliminate weak modifiers
instead of
a little bit frustrating
great ingenuity
very good
try
frustrating
ingenuity
wonderful,
spectacular

27. Be Bold.
Eliminate weak modifiers
from to
Although many emails have been sent
by us about cutting costs, these
measures haven’t always been
utilized. This is frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown ingenuity and
resourcefulness. Their overhead has
been lowered by a spectacular 28%.
It’s a lesson to us all.
Although many emails have been
sent by us about cutting costs,
these measures haven’t always
been utilized. This is a little bit
frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown great ingenuity and
resourcefulness. Their overhead
has been lowered by 28%, which is
very good.
It’s a big lesson to us all.

28. Be Bold.
1. Eliminate weak modifiers.
2. Eliminate passive voice.

29. Be Bold.
Eliminate passive voice
instead of
Many emails have been
sent by our company...
…these measures have
not always been utilized.
Their overhead has been
lowered by a spectacular
28%.
try
We have sent many
emails...
…employees have not
always utilized these
measures.
They have lowered their
overhead by a spectacular
28%.

30. Be Bold.
Eliminate passive voice
from to
Although we’ve sent many emails
about cutting costs, employees
haven’t always implemented these
measures. This is frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown ingenuity and
resourcefulness. They have lowered
their overhead by a spectacular
28%.
It’s a lesson to us all.
Although many emails have been
sent by us about cutting costs,
these measures haven’t always
been implemented. This is
frustrating.
The seasonal employees,
however, have shown ingenuity
and resourcefulness. Their
overhead has been lowered by a
spectacular 28%.
It’s a lesson to us all.

31. Be Bold.
1. Eliminate weak modifiers.
2. Eliminate passive voice.
3. Eliminate weak sentences.

32. Be Bold.
Eliminate weak sentences
Instead of
…employees haven’t
always implemented
these measures.
This is frustrating.
try
…some employees
haven’t done enough on
their own.
We’re frustrated.

33. Be Bold.
Eliminate weak sentences
from to
Although we’ve sent many emails
about cutting costs, we’re frustrated
that some employees haven’t done
enough on their own.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown ingenuity and
resourcefulness, to lower their
overhead by a spectacular 28%.
It’s a lesson to us all.
Although we’ve sent many emails
about cutting costs, employees
haven’t always implemented these
measures. This is frustrating.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown ingenuity and
resourcefulness. They have
lowered their overhead by a
spectacular 28%.
It’s a lesson to us all.

34. What do
I want
my
reader to
FEEL
?
Be Bold.
bonus tip:

35. Be Brief.
Be Bold.
Be
Clear.
To be effective…

36. Be Clear.
Simplicity
is the
ultimate
sophistication.
-- Leonardo da Vinci

37. Be Clear.
1. Use headings.

38. Be Clear.
Use headings
It’s not fair: child-bearing, weight gain or abdominal
surgeries can change the way we look – giving us stretch
marks, weakened stomach muscles and loose, overhanging
skin and fat in the belly. If this sounds like you, a tummy tuck
may be the answer.
A tummy tuck, or “abdominoplasty”, is surgery that corrects
and reverses the physical signs of pregnancies, weight
loss/gain, or previous abdominal surgery. We may also
perform liposuction at the same time, to give you better
results.
Your body will need two to three weeks to rest and recover.
By about eight weeks, you’ll be back to your usual self – with
a much better look.
This procedure takes about 2 ½ hours and is performed
under anesthesia in a hospital or surgical center. You’ll go
home the same day.
A tummy tuck will give you back the contours of your
stomach. You might even lose several inches in their
waistline!
If you’ve tried diet and exercise and still have that
overhanging bulge in your belly, a tummy-tuck may be right
for you.
Fix loose skin with a tummy tuck
It’s not fair: child-bearing, weight gain or abdominal surgeries
can change the way we look – giving us stretch marks,
weakened stomach muscles and loose, overhanging skin and fat
in the belly. If this sounds like you, a tummy tuck may be the
answer.
What’s a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck, or “abdominoplasty”, is surgery that corrects
and reverses the physical signs of pregnancies, weight loss/gain,
or previous abdominal surgery. We may also perform
liposuction at the same time, to give you better results.
Your body will need two to three weeks to rest and recover. By
about eight weeks, you’ll be back to your usual self – with a
much better look.
This procedure takes about 2 ½ hours and is performed under
anesthesia in a hospital or surgical center. You’ll go home the
same day.
What results can I expect?
A tummy tuck will give you back the contours of your stomach.
You might even lose several inches in their waistline!
If you’ve tried diet and exercise and still have that overhanging
bulge in your belly, a tummy-tuck may be right for you.

39. Be Clear.
1. Use headings.
2. Eliminate jargon.

40. A common sequelae of child-
rearing, weight gain, or
previous abdominal
surgeries is loose and
overhanging skin and fat in
the mid and lower abdomen.
Many women who have had
children have experienced a
significant weakening of the
abdominal wall as well as
seeing the physical signs of
skin stretching (striae) and
loose skin.
Be Clear.
Eliminate jargon
instead of try
A common result of child-
bearing, weight gain or
abdominal surgeries is a
change in the way we look –
with stretch marks, weakened
stomach muscles and loose,
overhanging skin and fat in
the belly.

41. Be Clear.
1. Use headings.
2. Eliminate jargon.
3. Check readability.

42. Be Clear.
Check readability
from to
It’s not fair: child-bearing,
weight gain or abdominal
surgeries can change the
way we look – giving us
stretch marks, weakened
stomach muscles and loose,
overhanging skin and fat in
the belly. If this sounds like
you, a tummy tuck may be
the answer.
A common result of
child-bearing, weight
gain or abdominal
surgeries is a change in
the way we look – with
stretch marks, weakened
stomach muscles and
loose, overhanging skin
and fat in the belly.

43. Be Clear.
Check readability
from to
Although we’ve sent many emails
about cutting costs, we’re frustrated
that some employees haven’t done
enough on their own.
The seasonal employees, however,
have shown ingenuity and
resourcefulness, to lower their
overhead by a spectacular 28%.
It’s a lesson to us all.
In spite of the fact that numerous
communications have been sent
by our company regarding
implementing cost cutting
measures, these measures have
not always been utilized, which is
a little bit frustrating. The
employees that are seasonal,
however, have demonstrated
great ingenuity and
resourcefulness and overhead has
been lowered by 28%, which is
very good. It is a big lesson to
each and every one of us.

44. Get a
fresh
perspective
.
Be Clear.
bonus tip:

45. Be Brief.
Be Bold.
Be
Clear.
To be effective…