How to Write Effective Business English

"Shed the shackles of school-driven writing"

This phrase means to let go of the rigid rules and restrictions on writing that were taught in school. It suggests that the formal, often inflexible, writing style learned in an academic setting can be a constraint, or "shackle," that prevents effective communication in the professional world. The author is encouraging readers to break free from these rules.

"No I in team"

This is a common English saying that means an individual's success is not as important as the group's success. It's often used to encourage teamwork and discourage individualism. The author uses it here ironically, or in a way that means the opposite of its literal meaning, because the text argues that individual contributions ("I") are crucial to a team's success.

"Management-speak"

This term refers to the jargon and clichés often used in the business world. It's a way of talking that can sometimes sound overly formal, vague, or unoriginal. The author points out that "no I in team" is a good example of this type of language.

"Dumbing down"

This phrase means simplifying something to the point of losing its quality or intellectual content. The author uses this phrase to clarify that the more conversational style of modern business writing, especially in emails, is not about making the writing less intelligent. Instead, it's about making it clearer and more accessible to a wider audience.

"Reader-driven"

This means to write with the reader's preferences and understanding as the primary focus. A "reader-driven" approach means tailoring your writing style to what your specific audience likes and expects. For example, if you know your boss hates sentences that start with "And," a reader-driven approach would be to avoid doing that when writing to them.

"Immaterial"

This word means unimportant or irrelevant. The author uses this word to explain that when a reader dislikes a certain expression, it becomes "almost immaterial" whether that expression is technically correct or not. What's important is the reader's reaction, not the strict rules of grammar.

"Aversion"

An aversion is a strong dislike or a feeling of distaste towards something. In this text, it refers to the negative reaction some readers have to certain words or phrases, such as sentences starting with "And" or "But."

"Terseness"

This word means being brief or concise, often to the point of being abrupt or rude. The text provides examples like using "Done" instead of "Yes, I've done that" or "We note..." instead of "Thank you for bringing this to our attention." The author explains that people tend to dislike this blunt style of communication in business writing.

"Forthcoming"

This word means ready or willing to be provided or given. The author uses it to say that if you expressly ask for people's assistance, their help is more likely to be "forthcoming," meaning they will be more willing to give it. In short, they'll be more cooperative.