# business-writing

This skill structures memos, leadership emails, status updates, and decision briefs around a clear takeaway. Use it when a draft needs a direct ask and supporting facts.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 53
- Author: surendranb
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/surendranb/writing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-02
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/business-writing

## What it does

The skill guides the agent to lead with the conclusion or request, support it with facts, and state the next action. It favors active verbs, concise paragraphs, and figures over vague adjectives. When a draft presents choices, it puts the recommendation first and gives alternatives with their trade-offs.

Its checklist flags business clichés and checks whether the opening carries the point, the ask names an action and deadline, and sentences stay within 25 words. That last limit means a long draft will need trimming. The guidance calls for numbers tied to context, so it cannot supply evidence that the writer has not provided.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill business-writing -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/business-writing/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill business-writing -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill business-writing -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install surendranb/writing-skills business-writing
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill business-writing -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/surendranb/writing-skills --path skills/business-writing
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add surendranb/writing-skills --skill business-writing -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/surendranb/writing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- put the decision and requested approval at the top of a memo
- rewrite a project update with a clear takeaway and next action
- draft a decision brief that compares a recommendation with alternatives
- turn meeting notes into concise facts and follow-up actions

## Example prompts
- Rewrite this project update with the conclusion first, then supporting facts and the next action.
- Draft an email to leadership asking for approval by a clear deadline.
- Create a decision brief with the recommendation first and trade-offs for the alternatives.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: cb242db95af02d6a.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE cb242db95af02d6a
```text
---
name: business-writing
description: Write executive-grade business communication with BLUF (bottom line up front), active verbs, and zero buzzwords. Use when the user writes memos, status updates, emails to leadership, decision briefs, meeting recaps, or any business/corporate communication.
---

# Business Writing

Respect the reader's time. Verdict first, evidence after, decision-ready.

## The core rule

**BLUF — the bottom line is the first line.** Executives read the first sentence; if it does not contain the answer, the rest may never be read. Every paragraph earns its place by carrying a fact, a decision, or a requested action.

Workflow: `one sentence: the verdict or the ask` → `2–4 supporting facts with numbers` → `one sentence: what you need or what happens next` → `delete everything else`.

## Mechanics

1. **First sentence = verdict or ask.** "Q3 revenue missed by 12% and we recommend extending the campaign." If the answer is a decision, say the decision.
2. **One idea per paragraph, one decision per paragraph.** If a paragraph contains two decisions, split it.
3. **Numbers over adjectives.** "12% below target, $84K short" not "significantly below expectations."
4. **Active, concrete verbs.** "We shipped", "I recommend", "The fix resolved". Never "it was determined that".
5. **State the ask explicitly.** "I need your approval by Friday." Never implied asks.
6. **No buzzwords.** Ban list: synergy, leverage (as verb), circle back, touch base, bandwidth, move the needle, low-hanging fruit, deep dive, going forward, best-in-class, robust, seamless, optimize (unspecified).
7. **Short paragraphs, short sentences.** 15–20 words average; paragraphs 2–4 sentences.
8. **Options with recommendations.** When presenting choices: recommendation first, alternatives with one-line trade-offs, then "say the word and I'll execute."

## Verify

- The first sentence contains the point (highlight it: can the rest be skimmed safely?)
- Every number is attached to a unit or context ("12% of Q3 target")
- No banned buzzwords (grep the draft)
- One explicit ask, stated as a verb + deadline
- No sentence over 25 words

## Do not

- Bury the verdict in context or "as we know" preamble
- Use passive voice for decisions ("it was decided" → "we decided")
- Deliver problems without a recommendation (every caveat comes with a path)

## Example transformations

**Before:** "Following a review of the recent performance metrics, it appears that there may be some softness in our pipeline coverage going forward, and we are currently exploring potential options to address this, with several avenues under consideration at this time."

**After:** "Pipeline coverage is down 18% this quarter, which puts Q4 at risk. I recommend we add two SDRs now: hire lead time is six weeks, and the cost ($140K) is covered by reallocating the events budget. I need your sign-off by Friday to start interviews."
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE cb242db95af02d6a

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the cb242db95af02d6a tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2936 of 3256 bytes. © surendranb · MIT · https://github.com/surendranb/writing-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/business-writing/SKILL.md

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---
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