See the Writing About Business guidelines for additional information.

General Purpose and Audience

Professional Writers write for a variety of audiences and have a wide variety of styles, structures, and forms to choose from when they write. Those who write professionally may be called to write for any type of business or cause, including universities, for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, services groups, and many others. Audiences vary greatly and will determine what style and form of writing that a professional writer will use. Audience is an integral component in Professional Writing and will shape the style, format, citation style, types of evidence used, and types of writing.

Types of Writing

• Business letters
• Flyers
• Grants
• Memos
• Posters
• Presentations
• Reports

Types of Evidence

• Subjective: target audience’s personal experiences and personal narratives (as needed)

• Objective: quantitative data, including statistics, demographics, financial data, etc.

Writing Conventions

• User-centered design

• Avoid jargon in interdisciplinary situations.

• Use non-discriminatory language.

Common Terms and Concepts

• Audience

• Jargon

• Tone

• User-centered design

Documentation Style

The style varies based on the assignment. Always consult professors for the citations style they prefer.

Sources Consulted

Online Writing Lab. “Professional, Technical Writing.” OWL. Purdue University. 8 September 2014.