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The clearer you are about your purpose, the more likely you are to fulfill it. If you do not have a clear purpose in mind before beginning to write, your document loses effectiveness. Everything about the document -- including word choice, organization and format -- flows from its purpose.

Every document has one main purpose. When trying to clarify your purpose, ask yourself, "Why am I writing this? What result or effect do I intend it to produce? What do I want my reader to do after reading this?" The most common purposes of business documents are:

• Inform
• Persuade
• Request
• Promise
• Confirm
• Deny
• Acknowledge

Don't assume that your purpose is always to inform. Most documents contain information, but that does not mean their purpose is to inform. If you want your reader to act or think differently, then your purpose is probably to request or persuade. The few moments you take to clarify your purpose will pay off richly when your document achieves your intended result!

© 1996 Elizabeth Danziger

Worktalk Communications Consulting can help you communicate powerfully and purposefully. If you need to perfect your core correspondence, create web-site content that works, or train your staff to write clearly, we can help you. Working extensively in the financial sector, we have transformed the most mixed-up memos, laborious letters, and tedious reports. We have also trained countless writing-impaired but technically brilliant employees to get to the point.

Call (888) WORKTALK or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we can help you. Let WORKTALK help you get to the point!