Modern Business and Economic Writing

Author: Huadezhu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-03-01
Features: Fourteen years ago, John Naisbitt reminded us in his book Megatrends to remember that in a knowledge-intensive society, we need more than ever to possess basic literacy skills. Writing ability, particularly the applied writing (or practical writing) skills required for work and life, has largely become an indispensable, even primary, standard for measuring talent. This is an objective reality that everyone must face and cannot avoid. In modern society, without basic or even good reading and writing skills, survival is nearly impossible.
China's modern writing studies began to develop comprehensively around the same time or slightly earlier than when John Naisbitt made his reminder, initially focusing on modern basic writing studies (or writing principles). Over the past decade, China's modern writing studies, while establishing the discipline, have achieved remarkable accomplishments in both theoretical and applied research. Since the early 1980s, researchers, educators, and publishers have devoted great enthusiasm and effort to popularizing writing knowledge, improving the writing skills of the general public, and systematically building the modern writing discipline. Their hard work and contributions are widely recognized. From earlier works such as Writing Course (edited by Lu Deqing), Applied Writing (edited by Li Jinglong), and Comprehensive Practical Writing of China (compiled by Correspondence University), to subsequent publications like General Writing Course (edited by Li Zhongliu and Chen Jinbo), Applied Writing Course (edited by Lu Deqing), 270 Methods of Applied Writing (by Feng Guangzhen), and specialized books on writing perception and thinking research, as well as various industry-specific and professional writing textbooks and monographs (e.g., official document writing, secretary writing, public relations applied writing, scientific writing, military applied writing, audit applied writing, financial writing, news writing, advertising writing, and foreign-related document writing), modern writing studies have gradually deepened and expanded.
Research on applied writing has shifted from initially broadly introducing and discussing "mass applied documents" to focusing on specialized applied writing in various industries and professional fields, achieving results that deserve recognition and utilization. This is undoubtedly encouraging. However, it should also be noted that, as of now, the focus of most applied writing textbooks and reference or instructional works remains largely on "popularization," failing to effectively address "improvement," with a hint of being opportunistic and hasty. Today, "current needs" no longer align with general applied writing textbooks or broad reference and instructional works. The pioneering era of general writing books can no longer meet practical demands. After all, professional applied writing in various industries and fields has become highly specialized, making "professional writing" a more accurate and appropriate term. Moreover, the audience for applied writing is always dynamic, and formats, genres, and writing norms are constantly updated with societal development.
The compilation and publication of modern writing textbooks and reference instructional books should, from now on, actively and appropriately shift the focus from "popularization" to "improvement." The compilation and publication of this Modern Writing Series demonstrate our efforts in this direction. While we believe we have made sincere efforts, we admit we could still do better. We hope this series can serve as a catalyst, sparking further discussion and innovation.
The Modern Writing Series consists of eight titles: Modern Secretary Writing, Modern Business and Trade Writing, Modern Public Relations and Etiquette Writing, Modern Advertising Writing, Modern Scientific and Technological Writing, Modern News Writing, Modern Legal Document Writing, and Modern Foreign-Related Document Writing. The first four titles are being launched initially. All eight topics in the series are professional writing or professional applied writing, excluding basic writing studies (general writing or writing principles) and literary writing (literary creation). However, it must be clarified that basic writing is the foundation of all writing. Without knowledge of basic writing, professional writing and literary creation cannot be undertaken.
The content of each title in the series is interrelated. For example, Modern Secretary Writing touches on the writing of the other seven professional document types; Modern Advertising Writing overlaps with Modern Public Relations and Etiquette Writing; and Modern Business and Trade Writing shares some content with Modern Scientific and Technological Writing, Modern Legal Document Writing, and Modern Foreign-Related Document Writing. Our principle is to minimize repetition while highlighting the unique focus of each title (professional writing nature). For any content related to other professional document writing, we specify references to the corresponding professional writing titles. For instance, Modern Public Relations and Etiquette Writing includes "public relations advertising," while Modern Advertising Writing focuses solely on "commercial advertising writing." Modern Secretary Writing briefly introduces various professional documents, noting references to the corresponding professional writing titles.
The series is uniformly planned and finalized by the chief editor, while each sub-book is independently authored by its contributors, encouraging individuality. During the writing process, we have drawn on existing research and references, as is customary, and each book acknowledges this. We strive to embody "four characteristics" in the series:
1. Professionalism: Achieving "expertise" by addressing key issues, understanding the underlying principles, and uncovering the essence. Here, "professionalism" does not equate to "industry-specific," meaning it should possess professional characteristics and strive for depth and breadth. It should benefit everyone in writing documents, articles, copy, and letters of professional or specialized quality, not just those working in a particular industry.
2. Standardization: Ensuring "consistency" by being exemplary, typical, and universally applicable. Avoiding vague, generalized, or ambiguous approaches; strictly adhering to "professional" requirements to align with the realities and features of professional writing, solving relevant practical problems; and ensuring the normative and exemplary nature of examples. This should genuinely help readers write standardized, policy-compliant, law-abiding, and professionally required documents.
3. Effectiveness: Ensuring true practicality, operability, and "action with results." The series is designed as both a textbook and a monograph, making it easy to learn and teach, highly operational, and practical. This is our goal and pursuit. Therefore, during compilation, we intentionally reduced theoretical explanations and avoided the "ten key principles with ten examples" model, strengthened example analysis and guidance, and emphasized the practical operation of the dynamic writing process.
4. Contemporary Relevance: Ensuring a sense of reality and modernity. Based on "timeliness," we focus on incorporating the latest research, addressing new situations and characteristics of professional writing, exploring the dynamic process of professional writing activities, highlighting the "living" nature of writing subjects, adopting new formats and genres, and providing recent exemplary examples. We have made our utmost efforts, though we lament that our achievements may be modest. Fortunately, there is still much time ahead.