Question

Why is it the use of repetitious words unappealing in business communication? How can you avoid using repetitious words?

Answer 1

Repititious words can creep into business communication often. The repitions may be of the same words used over and over again, or it may be in form of repeating the same point in different forms more than once. This is not the way to a successful business communication, especially in a formal setup. Use of repeated words is unappealing because:

• In the digital age, the readers of the communication may have to go through multiple mails or letters. They like to minimise their time spent on each communication and thus helping them by being brief refelcts well on the senders' part.
• Repeated words may give an impression of lack of vocabulary which might be detrimental to the outcomme of the communication.
• A lengthy communication also indicates that the sender is not well occupied with his business to have taken so long to draft a communication.
• A verbose communication also reflects badly on the personality of the communicator who may be perceived to be inefficient in transactions. Business community looks for crisp individuals who measure time like money.
• It also reflects a lack of experience on communicators' part.

Use of repitious words can be avoided by:

• Rechecking and revising the draft to look for repetitions as they may creep in without knowledge of the drafter.
• Use thesaurus and online dictionary to find appropriate but simple synonyms to the word.
• Set a psychological word limit to the draft. This limit should depend upon the importance of the message and what is to be communicated.
• Use words which replace use of large sets of words. For example: Use the date instead of saying "the day after tomorrow".

Thanks!