The Business Letter-Writer's Manual [antikvár]

introduction For some time, certain material on business letter-writing has been published in bulletin form by the author of this book. This material has met with a constantly increasing demand from universities, private schools, commercial schools, and business houses. And there has been a parallel increasing demand that these bulletins be printed in book form. To those who have so kindly demanded — this book is dedicated. The author, therefore, has undertaken to give to the reader, through these pages, helpful hints on the writing of business letters — hints that can be adopted at once into everyday use. It is not the purpose of this volume to delve into " How to Think," " Character Analysis," and similar topics, but rather, through concrete, practical suggestions and examples gained from the author's years of broad experience and training, to take its readers through easy stages in showing how to avoid the many pitfalls which beset the letter-writer today; how to dress up his present-day efforts, and how to make a real start toward taking his letters out of the proverbial waste-basket class. Further, it is not the purpose of this book to give a considerable instruction in English Grammar. It is hoped and expected that those who take up this treatise for guidance will have received a good groundwork in grammar. After all, letter-writing cannot be taught entirely from books. The art of writing is largely a matter of the man himself. A man must know grammar; he must know words. These factors can be secured from books. But a man must know also — the technique of his job, and he must think. These are of the brain and mind themselves. Business men today find it wearisome to take up a book inches thick and wade through many pages of material, even though this be singularly worth while, but they are willing and ready to read a few interesting, resultful, and succinct articles on such subjects as " How to Begin a Letter," and " How to Close a Letter." For such men, this book will furnish a ready aid; something to which, on the days when they think less readily than on others, they can refer for inmiediate help and guidance. If these men do no more than refrain from doing those things herein suggested to avoid, they will have made a big stride toward writing Better Letters.