Writing in Your Discipline: Writing for Business

Business Links

Writing for Business

Writing in Business relies on analyzing the rhetorical situation: the writer develops a text for a specific audience and for a specific purpose, all within a specific context. Writers must identify the needs and expectations of their audience before they can determine how best to achieve their purpose with that audience. 

Generally, writing in Business values concise and efficient communication: writers should use headings and subject lines strategically and focus on “what your audience has asked you to supply.” Howe’s guide also explains that, basically, you should provide our audience with “need to know” information up front and avoid “nice to know” information altogether.

Courses in Business may ask students to write to a specific audience such as a client, a subordinate, a manager, a colleague, etc. Each audience requires and expects a different approach. Writing in Business also includes several types of writing, like memos, reports, emails, cover letters, application letters, etc.

Some of these genres may sound familiar, but it’s important to note that Business writing may use different conventions for them than you might expect. Furthermore, depending upon the purpose of the writing, writers in Business may also engage in positive writing, negative writing, or persuasive writing. Positive, negative, and persuasive writing all require different approaches to accomplish their purpose with the audience. 

Sample Business Paper