Appendix A: Business Writing Survey

This survey was conducted from April through August 2016. It was piloted with a group of my associates. Then it was promoted initially among my clients and associates and later on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Survey respondents were entered into a contest to win a copy of How to Write Anything: A Complete Guide (W. W. Norton, 2014). Five winners were selected and the books distributed. There were 528 responses in total.

Survey Questions

1.How important is writing in your workplace?

Please answer using a five-point scale where 1 is “not important at all” and 5 is “very important.”

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2.What kinds of things do you write most often at work?

(Check as many as you wish.)

E-mails

Requests

Proposals

Formal letters

Reports

PowerPoint presentations

Web copy

Instant messages

Text messages

Other

3.Are there other things you write at work that aren’t mentioned in Question 2?

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4.Have you ever experienced writer’s block?

YesNo

5.What do you find most challenging about writing at work?

I would like to write faster.

I need to be more concise.

I have trouble expressing what I really mean.

I have concerns about correct grammar and punctuation.

I’d like my writing to be more compelling.

I have trouble getting started.

I struggle with writing introductions and openings.

Other

6.Now think about your colleagues’ writing. Where do you think they could use help with their writing?

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7.Have you ever used a writing book to improve your writing at work?

YesNo

8.Would you find a concise, well-organized business writing book helpful?

YesNoMaybe

9.Do you think your organization would be interested in purchasing copies of a concise, well-organized business writing book?

YesNoMaybe

10.Are there any other thoughts you’d like to share about writing at work?

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