Professional Writing Conventions

More formal?

• Our contract is fixed – they can’t change the terms at this point.

• Our contract is fixed; therefore, they can’t change the terms at this point.

More formal?

• We do not use subcontractors.

• We don’t use subcontractors.

More formal?

• Postpone delivery to that customer until we receive payment

• Put off delivery to that customer until we receive payment.

More formal?

• Our division is facing 4 challenges.

• Our division is facing four challenges.

More formal?

• 23 is the department’s maximum headcount.

• Twenty-three is the department’s maximum headcount.  

• The department’s maximum headcount is

  twenty-three.

Correct?

• See page 6 for the explanation.

• See page six for the explanation.

Easy to read?

• HK $1,890,805 

• HK$1890805