Professional

Language
Reporter: Marilou C. Lumasang
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 Did you know?
Professional documents require language that is
appropriate to the workplace setting:
1. Polite
2. Professional rather than overlay personal
3. Grammatically accurate
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 We will talk about this first.

01 Firstly, polite language is essential in a

context wherein there are power
asymmetries.
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 Examples
Expressions like:

● “Please”

● “Kindly”

● “Thank you”
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02 Secondly, both personal matters and

overlat friendly langauge culd nt appear in
worklplace correspondence.
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 Example
Overlay Personal Professional
Hey, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but I am writing to request a three-day
I’ve been having a bunch of family leave. I have some urgent personal
problems lately. My son was recently business to attend to, and I would
expelled, my daughter is in rehab, and certainly appreciate your approving
to top it off, my wife hasn’t spoken to this request. Thank you very much
me in days! So, I really need a few for your consideration.
days off to try to get my home
situation straightened out. Please help
me out by approving this request.
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03 Thirdly, it should go without saying that

professional writing should exhibit
grammatical accuracy in the use of
Standard English.
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 Take Note!

Professional writing should consist of grammatically

accurate and easy-to-read sentences.
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04 Fourthly, professional writing can be made

clear and direct by the avoidance of what is
called “business jargon.”
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 Business Jargon

These are overly technical and overused expressions

that both obscure the writer’s meaning and add clutter
to writing.
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 Locker and Kienzler (2013) provide a guide to “Getting Rid
of Business Jargon” in which they dissuade writers from using
convoluted and old-fashioned expressions like “as per your
request”, and “enclosed please find.” They suggest shortening
these to “as you requested” and “here is.”
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― Irene M. Pepperberg
 Similarly, “hereto, herewith, and whereupon” are old-fashioned
expressions that should be omitted, while the pompous “pursuant
to” can be simplified to “according to.” A common error in the
Philippines is the overused sentence fragment used to close
letters: “Hoping for your kind consideration.” This may be
corrected by writing a full sentence: “I hope you will consider
this request.”
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― Irene M. Pepperberg
 Lastly, local or culture-bound expressions, especially if these have
to do with religious beliefs, should be avoided in professional
correspondence.

Examples are “More power to you,” and “God bless!”

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― Irene M. Pepperberg
 We will talk about this first.

05 The fifth and final point is that emojis or

emoticons and shortcuts that are commonly
used in text messages and electronic
ocommunication have no place in professional
writing.
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 Examples

● Multiple exclamation points (!!!)

● Combinations of question marks and exclamation points (?!)

● Dramatic ellipses (…)

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 Emojis or digital icons that express emotions are also too playful
and informal for the professional context.
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― Irene M. Pepperberg
 Shortcuts such as AFK (away from keyboard), LOL (laugh out
loud/lots of love), and NRN (no reply necessary).
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― Irene M. Pepperberg
 Thank you for
listening!
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