Business Communication Vocabulary

Flashcards for Business Communication/Writing - Module #2 Finals

Business Writing

A type of writing used in a professional setting which conveys relevant information to the reader in a clear, concise, and effective manner.

Business Writing

A formal document often sent from one company to another, from an employee to an employer, or from a company to its clients or stakeholders and must be substantive, clear, accurate, correct, and easy to scan and understand.

Clear

Be clear about your purpose, goal, or message. Be straightforward and minimize the ideas in each sentence.

Concise

Stick to the point and keep it brief; avoid unnecessary adjectives or words.

Concrete

Send a clear and solid message, providing the audience with a clear picture of what you're telling them.

Correct

Ensure technical terms fit the audience's knowledge, check for grammatical errors, and verify the spelling of names and titles.

Coherent

Ensure your message is logical, with all points connected and relevant to the main topic, maintaining a consistent tone and flow.

Complete

Include all relevant information such as contact names, dates, times, and locations, providing everything the audience needs to be informed.

Courteous

Ensure your letter is friendly, open, and honest, with no hidden insults or passive-aggressive tones.

Font Style and Size

Times New Roman, 12pt is generally accepted. Other options include Arial, Cambria, and Georgia.

Heading

Contains the return address, phone number, fax number, or e-mail of the sender.

Dateline

Shows the date when the sender wrote the letter; the widely used format in the Philippines starts with the month, day, and year.

Inside Address

The address of the recipient of the letter, including full name, titles, and relevant information like the office address.

Salutation

Must always be formal, ends with a colon, and often begins with Dear (Person’s name).

Body

The meat of the letter containing the information or subject, typically single-spaced with two spaces between paragraphs.

Complimentary Close

A short and polite remark that ends your letter, followed by a comma (e.g., Sincerely, Very truly yours, Respectfully,).

Signature Line

A brief section of text representing your identity, providing important information about your role, company and contact details.

Enclosure

Anything you send along with the letter.

Block Format

A layout where all text is justified left and paragraphs are not indented.

Modified Block Format

Similar to block format, but sender’s address, date and closing are moved towards the center of the page.

Semi-Block Format

Similar to modified block format, but the first line in every paragraph is indented.