Look Good in Print

This text will refresh your memory or introduce you to the common writing rules for Standard American English. It addresses the 22 most common errors found in writing. Applying and using the fundamentals of good writing will ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and achieves your intended purposes.

Introduction

When you write for business, write correctly. Simple mistakes can embarrass you and cost your company real money. As evidence, read this New York Times article about the million-dollar comma: Lack of an Oxford Comma Could Cost Millions.

In this chapter we'll touch briefly on 22 fundamentals of good writing. We selected these by counting and categorizing the most common mistakes in a large sample of student papers. In other words, our approach is neither comprehensive nor random, but pragmatic. We want to help you avoid the most common pitfalls.

Grammar Rules. Some of the fundamentals are grammatical, reflecting the rules that govern how sentences are constructed in the English language. These rules have fairly definitive right and wrong answers (although grammar rules do evolve; witness the recent acceptance of the singular "they" by some media outlets).

Style Guidelines. Other fundamentals relate to style: preferred constructions that, while not based on grammar rules, represent recommended practice. Many organizations have their own style guides listing particular do's and don'ts.

Always follow your employer's style guide (if available). For purposes of this course, consider sections 2A - 2C your basic in-class style guide. You are responsible for learning and applying the 22 fundamentals contained in these three chapters.

Source: Marriott School of Business, https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/management-communication
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