Business Practical Guide To Improving Business Documents Uneeb KhanOctober 24, 20220128 views Documents are the lifeblood of any business. They can make or break a deal, dictate how efficiently your company runs, and be the determining factor in whether you make or lose money. So, why do so many businesses put out documents that are sloppy, error-prone, and hard to understand? In the following article, we’re going to share some tips for improving your business documents and ensuring that your company runs as efficiently as possible. Source: Unsplash Table of Contents Make Use of Plagiarism Checker ToolsType Out Clear and Concise DocumentsUse Bullet Points and Numbered ListsUse Active VoiceEdit Your DocumentsMake Use of Headings and SubheadingsDon’t Be Too VagueBottom Line Make Use of Plagiarism Checker Tools When you’re writing documents, it’s important to make sure that your work is original and error-free. One way to do this is to use a plagiarism checker tool, which will help you catch any copied content or errors in your documents. There are a number of different plagiarism checker tools available online, but not all of them are trusted and verified. Use one that highlights the plagiarised content, and gives you the source that matches. Some of the tools will also offer you the option to rephrase the content for you, 100% free of plagiarism. Type Out Clear and Concise Documents This may seem like an obvious point, but people often forget about it. A lot of businesses make the mistake of thinking that more information is better when in reality it just makes things more confusing. Keep your documents short and to the point, and make sure they’re easy to understand. Use Bullet Points and Numbered Lists Bullet points and numbered lists are important when it comes to business documents. They make things easier to scan and understand, and they can help break up large chunks of text. Whenever possible, use bullet points or numbers to list out information in your documents. Use Active Voice When writing business documents, always use an active voice. This will make your writing more direct and easier to understand. Using active voice will also help to ensure that your readers don’t get confused about who is doing what. When writing in an active voice, always use clear and concise language. This will help to ensure that your readers understand exactly what you’re trying to say. Be sure to avoid using jargon or technical terms that your readers may not be familiar with. If you must use technical terms, be sure to explain them in plain language. This will help to ensure that your readers don’t get lost in translation. Source: Unsplash Edit Your Documents It might seem counterintuitive, but editing your work as you go is actually more efficient in the long run. By taking the time to revise and edit your work as you write, you can avoid having to do a major overhaul later on. Not only will this save you time, but it will also help ensure that your final product is of the highest quality. Another great idea is to have a colleague look at your work. A fresh pair of eyes will spot any mistakes easier, and can also offer constructive feedback on the overall quality of your work. If you don’t have anyone to ask for help, consider reading your work aloud to yourself. Make Use of Headings and Subheadings Headings and subheadings can be a great way to organize your thoughts and break up large chunks of text. When used correctly, they can make your writing more readable and help your reader follow your train of thought. Make sure the content below them is related and filled with information instead of fluff, as it has no value to your reader. Don’t Be Too Vague The complete opposite of fluffed text is being too vague, which is equally as bad. When you’re writing business documents, it’s important to be as specific and clear as possible. Otherwise, your reader may not understand what you’re trying to say, or worse, they may misinterpret your meaning. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and even lost opportunities. To avoid this, take some time to think about exactly what you want to say before you start writing. What are your goals for the document? Who is going to read the document? What information do they need? Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, you can start crafting your message accordingly. Bottom Line Good business documents are an essential part of effective communication in the workplace. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can improve your writing and make sure that your documents get the results you need. With a little practice, you’ll be able to produce clear, concise, and persuasive business documents that will help your company succeed.