Business Writing

Business writing covers a range of formal documents. Each has a specific structure and tone.

1. Business Report

Structure:

Title Page
Executive Summary (1-2 paragraphs — key findings and recommendations)
Table of Contents
Introduction  → Purpose, scope, and method
Findings      → What you discovered (use headings, data, charts)
Analysis      → What the findings mean
Recommendations → What should be done next
Conclusion    → Summary of the report
Appendices    → Supporting data
References    → Sources cited

Language style:

Passive voice: "The data was collected between January and March."
Hedging: "The findings suggest…" / "It appears that…"
Formal connectors: "Furthermore", "In contrast", "As a result", "Nevertheless"

Example Executive Summary:

"This report examines the Q3 performance of Pinnacle Tech's Northern expansion. Key findings indicate that customer acquisition has increased by 32% quarter-on-quarter, while revenue per customer remains below target by 18%. The report recommends investing in customer success training to improve retention and upselling rates."

2. Memo (Internal Communication)

Format:

TO:      [Recipient(s) / Department]
FROM:    [Your Name and Title]
DATE:    [Date]
SUBJECT: [Clear, specific subject]

[Opening: State the purpose immediately]
[Body: Facts, instructions, or information]
[Closing: What action is needed, by when]

Example:

TO: All Staff
FROM: Adaeze Inyama, HR Manager
DATE: 25 February 2026
SUBJECT: Mandatory Cybersecurity Training — 5 March 2026

All staff are required to attend the cybersecurity awareness training scheduled for Wednesday, 5 March 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Conference Room B. Attendance is compulsory. Please confirm your attendance by replying to this memo by 28 February.

3. Business Proposal

Structure:

Cover Page
Executive Summary
Problem Statement → The issue your proposal addresses
Proposed Solution → How you will solve it
Methodology       → How you will do it (step-by-step)
Timeline          → Milestones and deliverables
Budget            → Detailed cost breakdown
Team / About Us   → Credentials and experience
Conclusion        → Why your proposal should be chosen
Appendices

Persuasive proposal phrases:

"Our proven track record demonstrates…"
"This solution will deliver measurable results within…"
"We are uniquely positioned to address this challenge because…"
"The expected ROI is X% within 12 months."

4. Cover Letter

Structure:

[Your contact details]
[Date]
[Hiring manager's name and company]

Dear [Name],

Opening ← State the role you're applying for and how you found out
Paragraph 1 ← Why you are the right candidate (skills + achievements)
Paragraph 2 ← Why you want this specific company/role
Closing ← Call to action: request interview

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

Example Cover Letter Opening:

"Dear Ms. Chukwu, I am writing to apply for the position of Brand Manager at Indomie Consumer Foods, as advertised on LinkedIn. With over five years of experience in FMCG marketing and a proven record of growing brand equity by 40% at my current organization, I am confident in my ability to make a significant contribution to your team."

5. Professional CV Tips

CV Section	Best Practice
Name & Contact	Full name, professional email, LinkedIn, phone
Profile Summary	3-4 sentence summary of who you are and your value
Work Experience	Most recent first; use action verbs (Led, Managed, Achieved)
Education	Degrees, certifications, professional courses
Skills	Relevant hard and soft skills
Referees	"Available on request" is acceptable

Powerful CV action verbs:
Achieved · Spearheaded · Managed · Delivered · Generated · Reduced · Increased · Collaborated · Implemented · Streamlined

Nigerian CV Note:
Avoid including: religion, tribe/ethnicity, marital status, or a passport photo — these are not required and may introduce bias. Increasingly, Nigerian employers aligned with global standards do not expect these.