Helen Cunningham | Brenda Greene
1 Read this if you write!
For anyone who writes in a business environment-which is probably most people reading this-The Business Style Handbook is an extremely useful reference. I especially appreciated the introductory material, which provides the basis for great marketing copy for those of us who write and edit for a living. And it's a great relief to have a handy reference for handling all those marketing-speak and tech-speak neologisms and inconsistencies.
Plus this book is much more manageable in size and price than most writers' and editors' manuals, which few people besides professional writers and editors are going to be willing to invest in. I checked it out of the library first to see whether it was worth buying, and my conclusion was "Yes, definitely!"
2 How the Business Style Handbook Helped Me
I'm glad I had a copy of The Business Style Handbook when a big argument erupted in my department. One group said you have to write "an NYSE stock" while another said you have to write "a NSYE stock." I took out a copy of The Business Style Handbook (which my wife gave me for Christmas to help me improve my e-mail) to settle the dispute. By the way, it should be written "an NYSE stock." It's one of the first times I've been on the right side of a grammar argument.
3 A writing handbook with cultural and social backgrounds
A while ago, a friend asked me to review some business correspondence when I was in Beijing. Subsequently, I always thought that it would be helpful to find him some business writing reference books. When I came across The Business Style Handbook (in both English and Chinese), I recommended them to my friend.
The book is very practical. It differs from a regular dictionary in that it contains not only definitions for terms but also their cultural and social backgrounds. Look for the references for items such as 360-degree review, 401(k) or cookie. They are very helpful to people with different language backgrounds. Another advantage is the included examples, such as how to properly use kudos. Additionally, the first five chapters provide an excellent summary on modern business writing. In all, no matter it is for a beginner or as a reference, the book provides a lot of value to its readers.
4 Precise and Easy.
I write on tight deadlines and can't afford to make mistakes in the work I produce. This book is a big help. It is a valued resource for questions on grammar, spelling and pronunciation. And it is written in plain english; no need to wade through discussions on the fine points of grammar. It also makes a great gift.
5 Worth Recommending - especially to those who report to you
I spend a good deal of time at work writing documents and e-mails. When I have questions about how to write something correctly, The Business Style Handbook is my reference tool of first resort. Its focus on business and finance is invaluable. Where else could I quickly find out whether to use a hyphen in enterprise-wide or parentheses with 401 (k)? The chapter on e-mail is also useful, as is the information from the Fortune 500.
It is now suggested reading for the employees in our Fortune 500 company.
6 Style - A to Z
As an owner of a small business, this book has been an enormous aid in "putting the company's best face forward." Our success often depends upon the image we project in all our written materials. This simple little book is a necessary tool for getting it right the first time. The entire staff keeps it handy at all times. Though our world is getting faster and more hetic, there is no need to sacrifice grace and eloquence in writing style - even in an email! Buy this book.
7 A must-have
Last month, I started my first full-time job after graduating from college. This book has been an invaluable reference for me. The section on e-mail has been especially helpful as I've never written business-style e-mail before. I only wish I'd been given this book before I graduated, so that I could have improved my resumes and cover letters! I would absolutely recommend this book for both recent college graduates and seasoned employees.
8 A big help
Writing isn't easy but it's part of my job. This book was recommended at a writing course given by my company and I find it very helpful. In fact, I use it all the time. I've even noticed that my co-workers are coming to me with questions about writing and when I'm too busy, I just hand them this book (and tell them to be sure to return it).
9 A nice find
As an English major, I get carried away with language -- occasionally at the expense of my "audience." An adviser at the Career Services department suggested that I take a look at the The Business Style Handbook. I was surprised to learn so much about writing in a "business" writing book. And
the A-to-Z section has helped me clean up my prose so that when I send out my cover letters and resumes they don't sound like I've spent the last sixteen years of my life in a classroom (even though I have).
10 Disappointing--Useful if You Didn't Learn English Well
I was very disappointed by this book, which came highly recommended. The other book recommended by the same source, Revising Business Prose by Richard Lanham, is much more suited to helping an already educated (and the over-educated) person focus their writing.
This book is essentially a double-spaced simpleton's dictionary. It lost me right away when I happened upon the entry "bullion Gold of silver in bar form. Do not confuse with boullion, a clear broth with seasoning." Good heavens. If you do not know the difference, this is the book for you. It has hundreds of other similarly inane examples, as I found in going over it as carefully as possible, trying to understand why on earth it had been recommended to me.
11 Write to the Point
This book may be the handiest and clearest book of tips on basic business writing I've read in a long time. The book's tips on writing clearly and for the reader of the office memo or e-mail are direct, short and to the point.
It doesn't waste words but it doesn't omit a lot of topics, either. For example, a memo writer is reminded to "write as you speak--if you speak clearly." Thousands, no, millions, of words have been devoted to this topic. This one sentence sums it up nicely.
Some may quibble with minor points in the book. For example, it advises readers not to capitalize the "The" in newspaper names because some papers use a "the" and some don't. To my way of thinking (and training), that's a question easily resolved by finding out what the newspaper uses. But this is a tiny point.
I much prefer the authors' valuable and wide-ranging bits of information:
khan: lowercase this term, which is a title for a ruler, an official or an important person in India and some central Asian countries.
c.o.d.: Use c.o.d. with periods for all references. It stands for cash on delivery. Without periods, it could be confused with the word cod, as in fish.
saccharin/saccharine: Often misspelled. The first is a sugar substitute; the second means overly sweet.
And so on, touching on topics from A to Z, as billed. I highly recommend this book.
12 The Business Style Handbook
An invaluable tool. I just started back in the workplace after an absence of many years and this book put me right back on the business track. It even helped my son with the writing of his resume. Thanks for all the useful information.
13 The Greatest handbook
English is not my first language but I need to write clearly, quickly, and without errors to succeed in my job. This book is my secret weapon. It is well organized and easy to use. The A-Z section answers a lot of questions I have about language and the chapters on business writing contain good advice for writing more effectively.
14 Excellent Source Material
Highly recommended. The book is constantly being borrowed by co-workers so they can check their grammar, style, etc. It is easy to read and understand. I have always said that "email is the ruination of the English Language." This book proves me wrong. We can use email and use correct grammar. I have given my children this book to use as a reference tool. Doreen M.
15 Finally, a style guide for the electronic environment !
These days, first impressions are not made face to face but in an electronic environment. E-mail is pervasive and writing style has become critical to everyone. I am an engineer and strategist not a professional writer. I needed an easy-to-use guide that offered well indexed, reliable advice supported by real examples. This style handbook ensures that even when pressed to get out a quick e-mail, my writing is clear, concise and correct.
This book is the essential reference guide for writing on the job.
16 Business style guide is useful for writers in other fields
I found clear, concise and useful tips to better writing in this book, though I am an academic rather than a business person. Its is particularly clear and easy to use. I wish my students would read it!
17 Excellent Resouce Handbook
This is an excellent resouce for business writing. It will quickly become a standard reference at the fingertips of those in need of quick and accurate information. I plan on giving copies to all of my managers.
Thanks to the authors for this handbook.
