So, you’re an ESL student dumped onto an English-speaking workplace. Chances are, you have no choice but to learn how to write business English effectively, lest risk being unable to perform your job well.
Business writing is different from other types of writing in that it’s a little more formal and requires you to produce material with a professional tone. If you’re going to work in an English-speaking country, there’s no escaping it, as most professions (especially white-collar ones) will require you to write in that manner.
To help you out, here are a few tips:
1. Learn to write English in a more formal, straightforward manner. To be on the safe side, it’s best to aim for a more formal tone, rather than find a more balanced writing style. Sure, you might not end up writing the most interesting emails or memos, but you’ll sound professional doing so.
2. Write to your audience. Always know who you’re writing a document for. If it’s an email to a co-worker along the same rank as you, a little less formality might help you establish better rapport. For a report that you’ll submit to superiors, though, you may want to dispense with the pleasantries.
3. Be clear and to the point. No need for literary devices for business writing. Sure, it might help for proposals and other materials intended to sway opinion. But you’ll be teetering a fine line and it’s best not to rock the boat, especially if English isn’t your first language.
4. Arm yourself with a good English language software. You’ll need it, especially when it comes to cleaning up writing mistakes and improving your overall facility.