- Who is Thoughtful Learning?
For more than 40 years, Thoughtful Learning has taught writing, thinking, and communicating in materials for K-12, college, and career. Learn more.
- Why are soft skills so important?
So-called "soft skills" give you the ability to communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve, the skills most highly prized by employers. They are really "hard skills" because they take time and effort to develop, but they are all-important for career success. Learn more.
- What is the skills gap, and what can I do about it?
Employers seek a certain set of skills that many workers lack—writing, communicating, collaborating, and problem-solving. The Write for Business Guide, eTips, and Courses teach these skills, helping workers succeed on the job and build careers. Learn more.
- Why should I trust Write for Business?
For 20 years, Write for Business has set the gold standard for workplace writing instruction. Now, the third edition of its Guide is available free online, and eTips and Courses help you gain even more skills. Learn more.
- What is your research basis?
All materials from Write for Business use the seven traits of effective writing, a framework with more than 50 years of research. Learn more.
- What are the seven traits of business writing?
The seven traits are a universal set of qualities that effective writing has: ideas, organization, voice, words, sentences, correctness, and design. These traits help writers focus their efforts throughout the writing process, diagnose problems, apply solutions, and discuss writing with others. Learn more.
Courses
- How do these courses work?
Write for Business Courses progress from basic messaging to executive-level communication. They provide instructions, examples, activities, and quizzes, with pre- and post-assessments to measure learning. Learn more.
- What are "active writing scenarios" and "authentic writing"?
The only way to improve your workplace writing is to actually write about topics you deal with daily. That's why Write for Business Courses include active writing scenarios that prompt you to create authentic writing about your own workplace. Learn more.
- How do these courses combat the "forgetting curve"?
The "forgetting curve" is the natural tendency to lose new learning—unless it is used repeatedly. Each Write for Business course provides you unlimited access, so you can return to what you have learned. Courses also teach you to use the free online Write for Business Guide to answer all of your workplace-writing questions. And for weekly opportunities to brush up your writing, subscribe to free eTips. Learn more.
- What course can I take for free?
You can take the brief course Effective Emails and Messages just by creating an account at writeforbusiness.com. Learn more.
- What course is right for me?
If you'd like a free introductory course, check out Effective Emails and Messages. For a review of the most important rules of written English, try Grammar for Professionals. If you want strategies for each of the seven traits, try Fundamentals of Writing, and if you want to improve the effectiveness of your writing, try Writing for Results. For higher-level workplace writing, check out Clear Writing Through Critical Thinking and Executive Writing. Learn more.
- Can I get these courses in print?
All of the Write for Business online Courses are also available in print versions (except for the free course, Effective Email and Messages). Learn more.
- Can I get other references in print?
Your online Write for Business Guide is available as a desktop reference, in hardcover or wire binding. You can also get Write for Work, which helps you teach workplace writing in technical schools and colleges. Learn more.
- Where does the Guide come from?
The Guide is the fully updated third edition of the award-winning Write for Business handbook. It has become the go-to writing resource for businesses like Amgen and Blue Cross Blue Shield, educators such as Johnson & Wales University and Gateway Technical College, and government agencies such as FHFA and DHS. You can consult it for free online, but you can also have your own physical copy by ordering the print version. Learn more.
- How does the Guide combat the "forgetting curve"?
The Guide gives you authoritative answers to workplace writing questions. You can discover problems and solutions for the seven traits of effective business writing, can learn to break bad news or persuade, can get support for writing key workplace forms such as reports or proposals, and can even find answers to questions about the rules of English. By going back to the Guide routinely, you'll remember what you've learned—and add to it! Learn more.
- Do you share my email address or other information?
We value your privacy as much as we value our own. To find out more, check out our privacy policy and terms of use.
- How do eTips combat the "forgetting curve"?
Forgetting happens. It's what our brains naturally do with information and skills without spaced repetition. To hold onto your skills, you can subscribe to free weekly eTips. They bring grammar goodness to your inbox, with instruction, examples, and activities that help you sharpen your skills. Learn more.
- Why is "Thoughtful Learning" on my credit card receipt?
Thoughtful Learning is the parent company that brings you Write for Business as well as writing instruction from kindergarten through college. For more than 40 years, the Thoughtful Learning team has provided quality curricula for writing, thinking, collaborating, and learning. Learn more.
- What is your privacy policy?
We want you to come to us as your trusted resource on workplace communication, and we are completely disinterested in sending other people to your inbox or phone. To find out more, check out our privacy policy and terms of use.
- Who should purchase a single license?
If you are seeking to advance your own career by gaining new soft skills, a single license for a course works for you. A facilitator license works for those who will teach the course to others. Learn more.
- Who should purchase a facilitator license?
If you are an instructor or a training and development professional seeking to teach an online course, the facilitator license works for you. You'll be given a code to provide participants so that they can sign up and appear on your roster. Learn more.
- I purchased a facilitator license: Can I take the course like a participant?
Absolutely! You have full access to the course as facilitator and participant. In "My Library," on the left, you will find your facilitator tools. On the right, you will find your participant access. Learn more.
- I purchased a printed product: When will the package arrive?
It depends on the shipping option you chose. We offer 1-day shipping and 3-day shipping, which are still approximates depending on your location and the time of year.
- How do I update my username and password?
On writeforbusiness.com, click on the person icon at the upper right to log in. Use the same icon to click on "Account Settings." The screen that comes up will let you modify your username and password.
- I tried to update my password but didn't receive an email with a new link. What now?
First, check your "Spam" and "Trash" folders to make sure the email hasn't been lost. If it isn't there, try once more to reset your password, making sure your email is correctly entered. Also, make sure you are checking the email address that you entered.
- How do I receive the fastest response from the customer support team?
We constantly monitor messages sent to contact@writeforbusiness.com, so that is the fastest means of communicating with customer service.