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Personal Development and Productivity

Business Writing and Email

Plan, draft and edit clear emails, memos, minutes, reports and letters that busy readers understand quickly and act on.

Level
Beginner
Format
Written, self-paced
Length
About 6 hours
Lessons
15
Modules
4
Certificate
Yes, verifiable
Last updated
October 2026

About this course

Write clear emails, reports, memos and minutes that get read and acted on, with a simple process for planning, drafting and editing.

Self-paced written course: text lessons, practical exercises, module quizzes and a final project, delivered online. No video and no live tutor.

What you will learn

  • Identify your reader and purpose before writing, and choose the right message format
  • Write in plain English with short sentences, active voice and the main point first
  • Set a polite, direct and professional tone, including when delivering bad news or declining requests
  • Write effective subject lines, requests, follow-ups and reminders, and use Cc, Reply All and attachments correctly
  • Produce memos, meeting minutes, short reports, briefing notes and formal letters in standard business formats
  • Edit and proofread your own work with a checklist, and adapt messages for mobile readers and messaging apps

Curriculum

Module 1Principles of Clear Writing4 lessons
  1. 1Knowing Your Reader and Purpose3 min read Free preview
  2. 2Plain English: Short Sentences and Active Voice3 min read
  3. 3Structuring Messages with the Main Point First3 min read
  4. 4Tone: Polite, Direct and Professional3 min read
  5. QuizModule quiz, 4 questions
Module 2Email That Gets Results4 lessons
  1. 5Subject Lines and Opening Lines3 min read
  2. 6Request, Follow-Up and Reminder Emails3 min read
  3. 7Delivering Bad News and Declining Requests3 min read
  4. 8Email Etiquette: Cc, Reply All and Attachments3 min read
  5. QuizModule quiz, 4 questions
Module 3Business Documents4 lessons
  1. 9Writing Memos and Internal Notices3 min read
  2. 10Taking and Writing Meeting Minutes3 min read
  3. 11Short Reports and Briefing Notes3 min read
  4. 12Business Letters and Formal Correspondence3 min read
  5. QuizModule quiz, 4 questions
Module 4Editing and Polishing3 lessons
  1. 13Self-Editing Checklist and Proofreading3 min read
  2. 14Writing for Mobile Readers and Messaging Apps4 min read
  3. 15Course Project: Professional Writing Portfolio4 min read
  4. QuizModule quiz, 4 questions

Final project

Professional Writing Portfolio. A practical brief with ordered steps, what to produce and how to check your own work. You confirm it in your learner area.

Who it is for

  • Professionals and administrators who write emails, reports and letters at work
  • Recent graduates and interns preparing for office roles
  • Small business owners who write to customers, suppliers and officials

Not for you if you already work confidently with everything in the curriculum below. Look at the other personal development and productivity courses instead.

Requirements

  • No prior training needed; a working knowledge of written English is enough
  • A computer or phone with a word processor and email account to practise with
  • Examples of your own recent work emails or documents are helpful for the exercises

What is included

  • 15 written lessons
  • 15 practical exercises
  • 4 module quizzes
  • A final project
  • Certificate of completion with a verification code
  • Lifetime access to what you buy

Questions about this course

What do I need before I start?

No prior training needed; a working knowledge of written English is enough. A computer or phone with a word processor and email account to practise with. Examples of your own recent work emails or documents are helpful for the exercises.

What device do I need?

A phone, tablet or computer with a modern web browser and an internet connection. Lessons are written, so they work on slow connections.

How long do I have access?

Lifetime access to the full course or to any module you buy. All Access and Teams give 12 months of access to every course.

Can I get a refund?

Yes: a full refund within 14 days of purchase if you have completed less than 30% of the course (or of the module, for a single module). Read the refund policy.

Should I buy a module or the full course?

A module (USD 10) unlocks that module's lessons and quiz. The full course (USD 39) unlocks everything and leads to the certificate. If you buy modules first, each one you own is credited at USD 10 when you buy the full course.

Which currency will I pay in?

US dollars (USD). Prices include all taxes where applicable. Your bank may apply its own conversion fee. Card payment is being set up with our bank. After you place your order we email you payment instructions within one working day; your access starts as soon as payment is confirmed.

Personal Development and Productivity learning path

All 15 open courses in this subject for USD 349. Bought separately they cost USD 595, so you save USD 246.

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