Checklist: Business Writing 5Cs

After drafting the email, follow the checklist to help ensure a successful email.

Clear

1. Have you understood everything they have said or asked for in their email?

2. Are you sure you communicated your ideas and thoughts clearly?

3. Have you written anything they might misunderstand?

4. Are any of your sentences too long? Remember to have one idea for each sentence.

5. Is there anything else you need to consider or check before you click send?

Complete

1. Have you included all information required?

2. Is there any information that may be helpful, useful or relevant?

3. Have you answered each concern or question appropriately?

4. Are there any questions that you should ask your colleagues?

5. Is everything in this email relevant?

Cohesive

1. Have you explained your ideas smoothly and logically?

2. Do you need to connect ideas better by combining them or using a transition? For example, to show contrast - use ‘however’.

3. Have you used each transition correctly?

Correct

1. Have you double-checked all information is correct?

2. Are there any errors in punctuation, capitalization, or spelling?

3. Are there any grammatical errors?

Courteous

1. Will your reader think you demonstrate the right attitude?

2. Is the writing tone polite enough?

3. Is your writing style too impersonal or too personal?