Effective communication is achieved when sentences and paragraphs are developed according to the principles presented in this chapter. The development of coherent messages is vital to creating effective business communication. The four basic sentence structures—simple, compound, complex, and compound complex—provide for clarity, variety, and emphasis in your writing. Concentration on paragraph unity, length, emphasis, and coherence will result in an organized, effective message.

Check the paragraphs you write to see that they are related to each other and to the central theme of the message. Then polish the message until the entire message flows smoothly.

Use the “Checklist for Effective Sentences” below as a handy reference. This list presents the guidelines for constructing effective sentences. Use the “Checklist for Effective Paragraphs” as a basic guide for organizing your sentences into paragraphs. If you forget one of the elements, you may go back to the section in the chapter and review it. Then, recheck your writing.