The Importance of Writing Skills in the Workplace What are the words you write that reveal about you? Are they saying I'm a smart, well-educated businessman or are they screaming that I'm ignorant? The way you write reveals so much about you and your business skills. Your writing tells the reader about your educational background, whether you take pride in your work, and your level of business experience. Any company with employees who write clearly and concisely has a competitive advantage over other companies whose employees still struggle to communicate. Lack of good writing skills in the workplace can lead to excessive turnover, lost profits and high costs unless remedies are established. In our fast-paced workplace, precision and conciseness are essential. It is crucial with any document or presentation not to send the wrong message. A report by Madlen Read states that employers urge workers to improve their writing and concludes, "most U.S. employers say about one-third of workers do not meet the writing skills required in their positions" (25 ). In another report Email Exposes the Literacy Gap by Mary Anne Donovan concludes: “Email is pushing most organizations to move from oral to written communications with their customers. But managers are finding that many of their employees don't have the right writing skills for the job” (15). With these results it is becoming a major concern for all US businesses. We fail to communicate adequately through electronic emails, office memos and letters. We are sending messages that are not clear and concise and we are losing our credibility among our colleagues. Some of the problems we encounter as writers... middle of paper... You can and you can't August 1995 vol. 32, Iss. 8; page 60, 3 pages. Proquest University of Phoenix Online Collection September 13, 2004 Keywords: Business Writing Donovan, Mary Anne "Literacy, Writing, Email Systems, Skills, Training: Workforce" Email Exposes Literacy Gap November 2002 Vol. 81, number 12; page 15 Proquest University of Phoenix Online Collection September 13, 2004 Keywords: Business WritingEyres, Patricia S, “Guidelines, Litigation, Documentation: Supply House Times” Every Word Counts December 2003 vol. 46, Iss. 10; page 80. Collection online from Proquest University of Phoenix September 13, 2004 Keywords: Business Writing/Guidelines Finlay, Charles, "Email System, Financial Analysis, Internet, Law: Canadian Business" Think Before You Send May 13, 2002 Vol. 75, Iss. 9; page 80. Proquest University of Phoenix Online Collection September 13, 2004 Keywords: business writing