ES2002 Business Communication

1. ES2002 Business Communication Letter Writing: Style and Tone

2. Style and Tone • Style – words and sentences a writer chooses to produce a desired response in readers • Tone – the unwritten or unspoken message; the message “between the lines” ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

3. “The parking lot is sparsely used at 8 a.m.; likewise at 5 p.m. As managers – you either do not know what your EMPLOYEES are doing; or YOU do not CARE. … You have a problem and you will fix it or I will replace you. … What you are doing, as managers, with this company makes me SICK.” ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

4. The 4 Ps • Be polite • Be positive • Be personal • Be professional ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

5. Be Polite ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

6. Be Polite • Write in a style that: • Reflects appropriate reader-writer relationship • Doesn’t convey sense of superiority/anger/condescension • Doesn’t embarrass reader ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

7. Reflect appropriate reader-writer relationship (a) With effect from 14 July, I suggest your goods be delivered at 7.00 am sharp instead of the usual 6.30 am. I seek your cooperation in this respect. (b) My suggestion is that we deliver your goods promptly at 7.00 am instead of the usual 6.30 am. I hope this arrangement is convenient for you. Reflect appropriate reader-writer relationship Be Polite ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

8. Avoid sounding superior, angry, condescending 1(a) How do you expect us to send you the forms you requested if you carelessly omittedthe identifying numbers. (b) If you will send us the form numbers, we will be glad to send you all the papers you requested. Avoid sounding superior, angry, condescending Be Polite ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

9. Avoid sounding superior, angry, condescending 2 (a) Although money for your grant is unavailable this semester, we hope you will reapply next semester. Avoid sounding superior, angry, condescending (b) We are sure you recognise the fact that we cannot grant everyone’s request for a grant. Be Polite ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

10. Don’t embarrass reader Don’t embarrass reader (a) As you did not respond within ten days, it should be clear to you that you did not qualify for the free gift. (b) You probably did not notice that your order was mailed after our special gift order had expired. Be Polite ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

11. Be Positive ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

12. Be Positive • Use positive words/phrases • Stress what can be done ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

13. Use positive words and phrases Use positive words and phrases (a) There are no more places for the May 15 seminar and there will be no similar seminar organised until October. (b) Due to its popularity, all places for the May 15 seminar have been filled. A similar seminar will be organised in October and we will be happy to reserve a place for you, if you like. Be Positive ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

14. Stress what can be done Stress what can be done (a) The problem will be resolved if you connect the wires according to the instructions given. Be Positive (b) The problem would not have happened if you had connected the wires properly. ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

15. Which is better? (1) You will have to wait for Mr Suppiah to handle your complaint. (2) As soon as Mr Suppiah returns, he will answer your enquiry. ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

16. Be Personal ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

17. Be Personal • Adopt a “you” attitude • Use personal pronouns • Avoid pompous language / attitude ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

18. Definition of “you” attitude “… a style of writing that looks at things from the reader’s perspective and expresses genuine consideration for the reader” ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

19. Adopt a “you” attitude Adopt a “you” attitude (a) We are happy to announce that we have increased the size of our store building. So? (b) Now you will find a wider choice of merchandise in the greatly enlarged building. Be Personal Oh great! ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

20. Instead of We call to your attention … I am sending the enclosed check … Use You will be interested to know … You will be happy to receive … Adopt a “you” attitude Adopt a “you” attitude Be Personal ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

21. Use personal pronouns Use personal pronouns (a) If there should be any questions concerning the matter, please call the number listed on the letterhead above. (b) We look forward to working with you. Meantime, if there is anything further that we can do for you, please let us know. Be Personal ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

22. Which is better? Use personal pronouns (1) The full payment of the housing loan is due. (2) You must pay the full amount of your loan immediately. Be Personal There are instances when the omission of personal pronouns is appropriate. ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

23. Avoid pompous words/phrases Avoid pompous words/phrases 1(a) I, as a frequent borrower, wish to inform you that I am pleased with the improvement in quality of the National Library over the years. (b)As a regular user of the National Library, I would like to express my appreciation for the improvements made in the last 10 years. Be Personal ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

24. Avoid pompous words/phrases Avoid pompous words/phrases 2(a) I want to cogitate further on the matter before giving a definitive answer. (b) I want to think about the matter a little more before giving a final answer. Be Personal ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

25. Be Professional ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

26. Be Professional • Generalise experiences; simplify examples • Be objective • Maintain dignity • Be sincere ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

27. Generalise experiences; simplify examples Generalise experiences; simplify examples (a) For example, I once waited 40 minutes for a service 197 bus because two previous buses passed without stopping. (b) There was one time where I spent nearly 40 minutes waiting for two buses on Service 197 which drove past without stopping. And then there was another time when … Be Professional ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

28. Be objective Be objective (a) On top of that, the bus drivers of such on-coming buses would seize the opportunity to steer right and bypass the bus stop. Be Professional (b) Furthermore, the bus drivers who tailgate other buses also tend to bypass the bus stop. ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

29. Maintain dignity Maintain dignity (a) As a valued customer, you can rest assured that we will take every precaution to ensure that you get the best service in the future. Be Professional (b) Since you are a valuable customer, we hope you will give us another chance to prove that we can do a good job. ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone

30. Be sincere Be sincere • (a) Your phenomenal contribution to our understanding of tax laws is remarkable. • (b) We would like to thank you for helping us gain a better understanding of tax laws. Be Professional ES2002 Business Communication: Letter Writing: Style and Tone