The Importance of Writing Skills in the WorkplaceWhat words do you write reveal about you? Do they say I'm a well-educated and intelligent businessman or do they shout that I'm ignorant? The way you write reveals a lot about you and your business skills. Your writing tells the reader about your education, whether you take pride in your work and your level of business expertise. Any company whose employees write clearly and concisely has a competitive advantage over other companies whose employees still struggle to communicate. The lack of good writing skills in the business world can lead to excessive turnover, lost profits and high costs unless solutions are found. 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 states that in Employers Urge Workers to Improve Writing, Madlen Read concludes: "The majority of U.S. employers say that about one-third of workers lack the writing skills required for their jobs" (25). In another report Email Exposes the Literacy Gap by Mary Anne Donovan concludes: “Email is causing most organizations to move from oral to written communications with their customers. But managers discover that many of their employees lack the writing skills needed for the job” (15). With these findings, this is becoming a major concern for all American businesses. We are unable to communicate properly through email, memos, and letters. We send messages that are neither clear nor concise and we lose credibility with our colleagues. Some of the problems we face as writers... middle of paper ......Can and Can't Do August 1995 Vol. 32, Iss 8; page 60, 3 pages. Proquest University of Phoenix Online Collection September 13, 2004 Keywords: business writingDonovan, Mary Anne "Literacy, Writing, Email Systems, Skills, Training: Workforce" Email Exposes the Literacy Gap November 2002 Vol. 81, Iss 12; p. . Proquest University Phoenix Online Collection, September 13, 2004 Keywords: business writing Eyres, Patricia S, "Guidelines, Litigation, Documentation: Supply House Times" Every Word Counts December 2003 Vol. 46, Iss 10; p. 80 . University of Phoenix Proquest Online Collection, September 13, 2004 Keywords: Business Writing/GuidelinesFinlay, Charles, "Email System, Financial Analysis, Internet, Law: Canadian Business" Think Before You Send May 13, 2002 Vol. 75, Iss 9 p. 80. University of Phoenix Online Collection, September 13, 2004 Keywords: business writing