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I believe I can answer nearly any question about business writing. That goes in spades if the target audience is a lay readership. I make my living writing and speaking. N.B.: I DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS MARKED 'PRIVATE' because I believe that knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. I also believe such questions are likely to be submitted by people trying to cheat. In addition, don't waste your time asking me to write something for you. You don't learn anything if I do that. I'm happy to critique something that YOU write, of course. That's the best way for you to learn how to write well.
My profession is business valuation, which means appraising businesses whose shares are not publicly traded. This requires in-depth knowledge about a number of disciplines, including economics, finance, strategic management, accounting, anthropology, statistics, and psychology. The left-brain part of me must conduct rigorous research and financial analysis. The right-brain side must then separate what matters from what doesn't and then explain it all in writing (and in everyday English) to people (usually business owners, but sometimes judges and juries) who do not have the expertise that I have been lucky enough to acquire over the years. I love what I do and consider myself fortunate to live in a country where I can do what I love doing and make a nice living doing it. I am glad to help with writing issues, but NOT, please, with any valuation, business consulting, or other non-writing questions.
CFA Institute, American Society of Appraisers, Strategic Management Society, Academy of Management, Institute of Management Accountants
My writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, American Fly Fisher, Business Valuation Review, CPA Expert, Academy of Management Executive, CFA Digest, and others.
MBA - Oklahoma State U. (1991); BBA - U. of Oklahoma (1975); Chartered Financial Analyst designation (2006) Accredited Senior Appraiser (2006) Certified Management Accountant Certified Public Accountant (1992)
Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year (2001) - American Institute of CPAs Winner - Statewide Humorous-Speaking Contest - Oklahoma - Toastmasters International (1971)
Confidential.
I like the fact that business writing is so important, yet few business people do it well. Most confuse good writing with that flowery stuff they read in English classes. It doesn't. Business writing is far closer to journalism than to college English. IMHO, all graduates should have to take two journalism courses in News Writing.
One of these days I hope to publish the biography of a great editor of a prominent U.S. magazine in the U.S. He is now deceased. I can't say more than that because I don't want to disclose the subject of my work. I also have several business and technical books in mind. In fact, I am now talking to a prominent trade publisher about two books.
Short sentences trump long ones. The active voice runs circles around the passive one. Avoid adverbs.
The key to good technical writing is to write short sentences in everyday English. That's a lot harder than it sounds.
| User | Date | K | C | T | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | 11/22/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | I'm not a student, but am interested ..... |
| Jerry | 09/17/09 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | Mr. Miller, thanks very much for your ..... |
| Darrell | 09/07/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Definitive and to the point. Precise and ..... |
| Rebecca | 06/28/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Exteremely thorough. I knew I was asking ..... |
| John | 06/18/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | I rated you all 10s. Note there ..... |
Thank you, John. Three more questions: In your original query, were the two paragraphs in the same context or in different ones? In the second, you referred to "formal negotiation or business writing
Read this, please, Ray: www.allexperts.com/ep/2301-84697/Economics/Warren-D-Miller.htm. I don't respond to questions marked 'Private.' The economics are lousy because I set myself up to answer the same
Thanks for your most interesting question, Chris. I'm not aware of any annual awards for business writing. The only awards I know of are Pulitzers, which are not confined to business. Obviously, there's
Dear Jerry-- First things first: Please accept my heartfelt and most sincere apology for taking so long to respond to your most interesting question. And I hope you will pass my apology along to your
Thank you, Darrell. That background color is extremely helpful. Let me offer some strong management advice to you and, especially, to her supervisor. Alphabet soup and falsification of credentials is
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