It may be the age of the Internet and 140-character messages, but strong writing skills and basic English grammar still matter. Believe me, they will make a difference in achieving many of your life goals.

Success in college depends on coherent writing skills, whatever your major, and especially if you aspire to become a professional writer.

Access to the college of your choice is more likely if you put effort into building your writing skills and can make a polished written case for why you should be admitted.

Most jobs require writing skills, and the better yours are, the more likely you will be first in line for the next chance to advance your career or qualify for a raise.

Studies show that better writing skills increase your credibility. Carefully written communication conveys a sense of responsibility and shows you care about getting things right.1

If your job has the word “writer” in the title, or even “journalist,” you will be held to a higher standard, and must have polished skills.

You take some care in how you dress and groom yourself for the workplace, because you know it affects how people perceive you and your work.

Writing has the same effect, so make sure everything you share with coworkers, clients, and supervisors is as polished as your look.

Start by using your computer’s built-in spell-check tool, then go over your document again to check sentence grammar.

Language and writing skills in early education are the foundation of all future learning.

Show your child the fun of forming letters and writing small notes to friends and family at home.

Build skills early with books for each stage of development. Read to them and with them, and as they become more proficient, let them read to you.

Careless writing seems rushed, distracting from the message you want to communicate.

LinkedIn member profiles examined over a ten-year period showed that those who made 45% more grammatical errors were promoted one to four times, while those who made fewer were promoted six to nine times.2

For help polishing a resume, document, and more, call on a professional copy editor like The Sentence Doctor to give your writing more impact.

If you own a small business or hope to develop one, your future could depend on your ability to communicate in writing.

Less is more in business writing. Be concise and learn to convey ideas in a straightforward, clear style.

Quote hard facts and figures to make a case, for example, to present a business plan. Double and triple check your sources, and document them to demonstrate your work’s authenticity.

1. Get to the point. In the business world, no one has time to wade through text to find a kernel of information.

2. Construct sentences in the active rather than passive voice whenever possible. Passive voice weakens the idea you want to convey, diluting the substance.

3. Write to your audience. Think about the intended reader(s) and gear your writing “voice” accordingly. An email to a colleague or peer can use a much more casual tone than one to a potential client.

As with any essential skill, writing should be practiced and maintained throughout life. It can always be improved and will reward your effort on many levels. Good, fundamental writing will enable you to:

• Express your inner self, helping you refine and clarify your thinking.

• Retain your ideas to go back and revisit later.

• Explain complicated thoughts to others.

• Stand out in a competitive work environment.

Need another pair of eyes to make your writing clear and stylistically excellent? That’s the job of Phyllis Wooten, the Sentence Doctor. She is dedicated to perfecting your writing at reasonable cost.

Contact her for help composing a resume, e-book, and more at thesentencedoctor@gmail.com. Visit the web site, www.sentencedoctor.com for more information.

1. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-good-writing-skills-workplace-10931.html

2. http://business.time.com/2013/04/19/good-writing-can-help-you-succeed/

Summary

When you need to communicate in writing at school or work, through instant message, email, or in a more formal document, your writing skills determine how you are perceived at the other end.