Page 149 - How to write effective business English your guide to excellent professional communication by Fiona Talbot

138 How to Write Effective Business English

some cursive fonts, especially for non-NE readers. How compati-
ble is the font you use with other systems? Does the font size fall
within the routinely used 10–15-point range? Many consider that
12 point offers optimum readability – though you still need to con-
sider the needs of those with visual challenges and other needs, and
adapt your writing accordingly.
Do you use a subject heading above your main text? Do you use
a reference or code? An informative subject heading engages your
reader’s attention from the start. It also helps you identify the point
of your letter. Customize it if you can. Even the use of the word
‘your’, as in ‘Re: your contract XYZ’, is more reader-friendly than
‘Re: contract XYZ’. (Incidentally, you don’t need to use ‘Re:’ at all;
it’s a question of house style.)
Third, identify how well your letters work. Ask yourself ques-
tions such as these each time:

● ● Did I achieve the right result from this letter?
● ● Or was there a problem? Why was that? Was it because of the
English I used? What should I have written?
● ● Did I get no result when I had expected one? Why was that?
Should I use English differently next time I write?

Traditional letter format

Here’s an outline of a traditional letter format – but be mindful
that even within the UK there are differing conventions as to where
to place the date and address on a letter, and what salutations and
endings to use, amongst other considerations. Other countries will
naturally have differing conventions too. So once again, one size
does not fit all and you would need to adapt the outline according
to your chosen house style.