1. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 1. ELIMINATE SEX BIAS IN WRITING A.When a person gives a title, use that title regardless of your own personal preference. For example, if a female has the typed signature Ms. Mary Jones. When you reply, use Dear Ms. Jones.

2. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS B. Ms. is a standard abbreviation for both Miss and Mrs. (often associated with women's lib movement, but developed long before it). When you do not know the marital status of a woman, use Ms. If you know she is single, use Miss. If you know she is married, use Mrs. Professional titles are handled the same way regardless of sex. Example-Dr. Mary Jones, Reverend Jane Smith.

3. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS C.All females are encouraged to type the title of their preference as part of their typewritten signature as a courtesy to the person who will reply to the letter.

4. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS D.Alternatives for handling situations when sex is unknown: 1.Company all male - Gentlemen 2.Company all female - Ladies 3.Company male & female - Ladies & Gentlemen

5. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 4.Use AMS letter style which substitutes a subject line for the salutation 5.Position title - Sales Department--Dear Sales Manager Bank Branch Office--Dear Branch Manager Hotel Reservations--Dear Reservation Clerk

6. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 6.Form letter- Dear Customer Dear Associate or Colleague Dear Friend 7.Be careful with initials. S. H. VanHuss may turn out to be female. Usually we associate initials with a masculine name.

7. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 2. HUMAN AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EMPHASIS A. All communications going outside of the company should have as a secondary purpose the building of good public relations. B. All internal communications should build good human relations. Too often the niceties are forgotten with associates--same idea as having "company manners."

8. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 3. CONVERSATIONAL, INFORMAL APPROACH The current trend is toward using a warm, friendly, sincere, direct approach. Write as you talk. Avoid the stiff, ultra-formal approach.

9. TRENDS IN WRITING BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 4. CONTRACTIONS ARE NOW ACCEPTABLE The trend toward informality has made the occasional use of contractions acceptable. Excessive use of contractions is not recommended.