Chapter 2: Review

Key Takeaways

1. Formal writing requires effort because your grammar must be tighter and the vocabulary advanced.
2. Your ability to use a general-level style is necessary in any situation where you communicate with familiar people on your level and when a personable, more conversational tone is appreciated, such as when writing to someone with basic reading skills (e.g., an EAL learner).
3. In professional exchanges, slang should be avoided because it tends to deviate from the typical characteristics of good writing.
4. Emojis can lighten the mood and help with bonding among workplace colleagues; however, if used excessively, they can be seen as part of a larger breakdown of decorum.
5. Professional writers should not just avoid slang in their workplace speaking and writing. They should avoid many other elements of language that are either informal or contribute to making the tone and style of a message seem more informal.
6. Drafting involves writing consistently in a formal, casual, or informal style characterized by the “Six Cs”: clarity, conciseness, coherence, correctness, courtesy, and conviction.
7. Make your document easy to follow at a glance and accessible by using a variety of document design features such as titles, headings/subheadings, lists, visual aids, interactive elements, line spacing, and appropriate font types, sizes, and colours.