Word Choice

Keeping the Audience in Mind

The most important concept to keep in mind when writing for business is who your target audience is.

Learning Objectives

List the best practices for writing for business audiences

Key Takeaways

Key Points

You need to tailor your writing to fit different audiences in different situations. If you address the document's specific target audience in terms they understand, your document will have a better chance of achieving its goal.
When selecting words, your first goal should be to increase the usability of your writing by enabling your readers to grasp your meaning quickly and accurately. At the same time, keep in mind that your word choices affect the attitudes your readers have toward you and your subject matter.
Generally, keeping it simple is a good policy. By not over-elaborating and not using unnecessarily complex words, you make the message easy to understand and accessible to all. There may be situations in which more complex writing is needed, however.

Key Terms

target audience: The primary group of people that something, usually an advertising campaign, is aimed at appealing to.

The most important concept to keep in mind when writing for business is who your target audience is. You need to tailor your writing to fit different audiences in different situations. If you address the document's specific target audience in terms they understand, your document will have a better chance of achieving its goal.

Every business document has a purpose. You could be trying to persuade your boss that you are due a raise in one instance, and trying to persuade the HR Department that the company picnic would have more participation if it were held at a lake in another instance. In both instances, the language and way you would approach each topic is going to differ.

Know Your Audience

Know Your Audience: It is important to know your target audience for any piece that you write.

When selecting your words, your first goal should be to increase the usability of your writing by enabling your readers to grasp your meaning quickly and accurately. At the same time, keep in mind that your word choices affect the attitudes your readers have toward you and your subject matter. You also need to choose words that will increase your communication 's persuasiveness. Word choice could make a difference in how your voice is heard and your writing is perceived. A formal tone and more official word selection leads to a very different type of piece than an informal tone and simpler word selection. It is almost always advisable to let a trusted colleague read your writing, and offer suggestions, if needed, before you finalize it to make sure that it accurately and effectively conveys the message that you want it to for your intended audience.

In general, you are keeping the audience in mind when you:

Use concrete, specific words.
Use specialized terms only when your readers will understand them.
Use words accurately.
Choose plain words over fancy ones.
Choose words with appropriate associations and connotations.
Consider the cultural background of your readers when choosing words.
Use inclusive language.

Source: Lumen Learning, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-business/chapter/word-choice/
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