SPOKEN ENGLISH VERSUS WRITTEN ENGLISH


Many of the speaking patterns we use are not suitable in business writing. For
example, if you listen to a conversation, you might hear incomplete sentences, sudden
subject changes, or abbreviated versions of words and phrases. Although
these expressions are common in casual conversation, they are confusing and inappropriate
when you are writing to a customer, supervisor, or employer. Avoid these
things in written communication.
Incomplete Sentences
Quite often,we use fragments when we speak.We count on our tone of voice and
our expression or the reaction of the listener to fill in the spaces. In writing, this
isn’t possible, so it’s important to write complete sentences that express complete
thoughts. See Chapter 3 to learn how to avoid sentence fragments.
Sudden Subject Changes
In everyday conversation,we switch subjects easily.Two speakers can exchange far
more information in two minutes than a reader can absorb in the same time
period.That’s why it’s important to use the reader’s time efficiently. Switching subjects
requires time and mental energy.Write everything you have to say about one
subject before moving on to the next. Link subjects together to make it easier for
a reader to go from one idea to another.

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