Improve Your Writing In English - 7 Cs Writing In English Checklist - The English Training Company

Improve your writing in English, use the 7 Cs Writing In English Checklist.

Communication can loosely be divided into sender – message – receiver.

When communicating and writing in English in an “email, report, whatsapp message, social media”, how can we make sure the receiver other person “understands” and “gets our message”? Simple!

Try the 7 Cs Writing In English Checklist. Is your message…?

1. Clear.
2. Concise.
3. Concrete.
4. Correct.
5. Coherent.
6. Complete.
7. Courteous (respectful).

To improve your writing in English, here are two of the 7Cs in more detail with examples to help you.

Concise:

• stick to the point and keep it brief (remove unnecessary sentences)
• are there any “filler words” that you can delete? You can often eliminate words like “for instance,” “you see,” “definitely,” “kind of,” “literally,” “basically,” or “I mean.”
• avoid repetition of ideas
• 15-20 x 4 rule (sentences of no more than 15 to 20 words and paragraphs with no more than 4 sentences)

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Improve your writing in English

Concise – Bad Email Example

Hi Frederic,

I wanted to touch base with you about the mobile marketing campaign we talked about and set out last Monday. I really think that our target market is definitely going to want to see the company’s sustainability efforts. I think that could make a big impact, and it would stay in their minds longer than a sales pitch. For instance, if we talk about the company’s efforts to become sustainable, as well as the charity work we’re doing in local schools, then the people that we want to attract are going to remember our message longer. The impact will just be greater.

What do you think?

Regards,

Isabel

Concise – Good Email Example

Hi Frederic,

I wanted to quickly discuss the mobile marketing campaign that we analyzed last Monday. Our target market will want to know about the company’s sustainability efforts, especially our goals to become sustainable, greener and helping local schools.

This would make a far greater impact, and it would stay in their minds longer than a traditional sales pitch.

What do you think?

Regards,

Isabel

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Courteous:

• Courteous communication is friendly, open, and honest.
• There are no hidden insults or passive-aggressive tones.
• Keep your reader’s viewpoint in mind.
• Be empathetic to the other person’s needs.

Courteous – Bad Email Example

Jessica,

I wanted to let you know that I don’t appreciate how your team always monopolizes the discussion at our biweekly project meetings. I have a lot of other projects, and I really need time to get my team’s progress discussed as well. So far, thanks to your department, I haven’t been able to do that. Can you make sure they make time for me and my team next week?

Thanks,

Ivan

Courteous – Good Email Example

Hi Jessica,

I wanted to write you a quick note to ask a favor. During our bi weekly project meetings, your team does an excellent job of highlighting their progress. But this uses some of the time available for my team to highlight theirs. I’d really appreciate it if you could give my team a little extra time each week to fully cover their progress reports.

Thanks so much, and please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you!

Best,

Ivan

I hope this helps you in your job and professional career, Christopher!

My Top Tip Recommendation: How you help other professionals follow what you say in English

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