In today’s business world, it is important to be able to communicate well even if you are not a writer by trade. In order to establish yourself as an expert you need to be able to communicate clearly in writing whether it is through email, blog posts or research papers. You don’t need to have a book contract in order to take time to improve your writing skills. Here are a few tips to remember that will help you to write in a way that is easy for your audience to read.

Be Concise

All too often, writers feel they need to use a lot of words in order to get their point across. However, a few well-chosen words can resonate with an audience more than a lengthy oration. Choose what you want to say and restrict your writing to the main points.

Use Paragraph Breaks

In a similar vein, it is important to break things into paragraphs. Paragraphs – as well as section headings – make it easier for readers to scan through and digest the information you are providing. Paragraphs should be three to five sentences in length and devoted to a single point. You might also find that some topics are best presented in a different way, like as a bulleted list or in Q & A form.

Take Time to Edit

Often, we write when we have spare time. This means that it is crucial to go back through your writing to make sure the tone, tense and message are clear and consistent throughout the piece. Without taking the time to review and edit your piece, you may leave readers confused as to what your ultimate goal was.

Check Spelling and Grammar

While we all hope that people can see the intent of our words rather than just the structure of them, there are a number of people who will dismiss your expertise if your writing is rife with spelling or grammatical errors. It’s been said before but it bears repeating: spell check was invented for a reason. Be sure that once you have edited your piece so that it contains the content you desire that you also review it to ensure spelling and grammatical accuracy.

Choose an Eye-Catching Title

No matter what you’re writing, at the end of the day you’ll have to convince people to read it. The best time to choose a title is often once the piece is crafted. By the time your writing is done, you’ll have a clear idea of the content and its purpose. Choose a title that is accurate without being boring or lengthy. It’s a tough task but will be worth the time in the long run.

Often, writing can feel daunting for those who do not consider themselves writers. Following the steps above can help ensure that it is your content, and not the logistics of writing, that stand out to your audience.