Business Correspondence — Letters, Emails, Reports

Core concepts

1. 017 Cs of effective communication: clear, concise, complete, correct, concrete, courteous, coherent.
2. 02Business letter parts: heading, date, salutation, body, complimentary close, signature.
3. 03Formal email etiquette: clear subject, concise body, professional sign-off, proofread.
4. 04Report writing: title, executive summary, findings, recommendations, conclusion.
5. 05Active voice and specific verbs preferred over passive constructions.

Exam-critical pointers

• ⭐Distinguish notice, circular, memo, minutes — each has a specific format.
• ⭐Demi-official letters — semi-formal between officers.
• ⭐Avoid jargon and clichés; use plain English (Plain English Movement).
• ⭐Vocabulary section: synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutes (rote learn ICAI list).