clipped from: blogs.techrepublic.com.com   
10+ tips for keeping your writing sharp and professional
Writing abilities are among the most important business skills for a CIO, senior IT manager, or any IT person seeking a promotion. Yet the rules of good writing are often elusive. This list covers some of the critical areas you should keep in mind when writing anything from a lengthy business report to a memo, letter, or e-mail. We’ll follow up with some additional tips in a future installment. You can also download the complete checklist in PDF format for quick reference.

#1: Plan your writing

#2: Do your homework

#3: Write drafts

#4: Revise for style, correct grammar, and spelling

#5: Choose effective wording

Examples:
Use, not utilize; shortage, not paucity.

#6: Watch out for commonly confused words and phrases

  • accept/except
  • advice/advise

    • #7: Be precise

    #8: Write concisely

    #9: Avoid redundancy

    #10: Vary your sentence structure

    #11: Use active voice

    #12: Avoid sentence fragments

    #13: Avoid run-on sentences