Have you ever had a hard time remembering if you should use further or farther in a sentence? How about that or which? If your answer is yes, then The Elements of Business Writing by Gary Blake and Robert Bly is a book written for you. Our copy of this practical reference book is now a dog-eared decade old. Desperation spurred the initial purchase of this book; desperation that our sales letters werent very persuasive or punctuated correctly. A quick trip to the bookstore in 1993 turned up this gem of a book. Every small business marketer needs some type of writing reference book close at hand. If you are like us, you repeatedly make a few repetitive mistakes in your writing that you arent even aware of. Sometimes, you simply cant see these mistakes unless another person, a proofreader or an editor, points them out. But this doesnt always have to be the case. Disciplining yourself to quickly visit Blake and Bly when you have a doubt about your writing will save both you and your associates precious time. This book works. It works as a reference because you can quickly look up almost any subject you need help with to ensure your writing is clear and correct. Confused about semicolons? Hyphenated words? The difference between ultimate and penultimate? Blake and Bly cover these and hundreds of other examples of phrases and words and grammar that trip up business writers every day. If you only read and follow Rule 1--Use the active voice.--youll find your writing strengthened and vigorous. 66 rules of good business communication fit in 131 pages. These rules are arranged in chapters, by theme, such as: Principles of Composition, Principles of Persuasion, etc. We recommend reading through the entire book, a few rules at a time. Please highlight and write in the margins. This isnt the kind of book you can just borrow from the library, lift a few good ideas from, and be done with. This one you really have to buy. But if youre like us, youll find yourself turning back again and again to the same few sections that address your writing weaknesses or uncertainties. Theres nothing wrong with thatremember, your customer is only going to see the package you present to her, not all the labor you put in to make that package beautiful. Several of you may be familiar with Strunk and Whites classic Elements of Style from college days. Blake and Blys book has the same easy usability of the earlier work, but specifically targets the modern business person. They have modeled their work after an old classic in an up-to-date format absolutely appropriate to the needs of a rushed small business marketer. With Blake and Bly, your small business will look as professional as any large company. You may have to order this one online, as not all bookstores carry it. But, it is still in print and readily available. Used frequently, this handy looking-glass of a book will help your company put on its best marketing face for your customers. 2006 Marketing Hawks |
