Professor Bernie Gaidosch thinks we talk too much. More to the point, we don't write enough. "Our society is an oral society," he notes. "We all speak. We all watch TV. And most of us are very skilled at speaking."

Gaidosch, a professor at Toronto's George Brown College, worries that our tendency toward verbal communication comes at the expense of writing - and that hurts individuals as they proceed through their careers.

"This is a huge problem, and very few people seem to be paying attention to it," he complains. "I feel like the little Dutch boy holding my finger in the dike."

The Bottom Line

Gaidosch contends that individuals and businesses should pay closer attention to this because it is directly linked to career success and corporate profitability.

"Business is based around the written word," he argues. "We refer to written records to find out what a business has done. We hold meetings and we designate someone to take minutes. We write reports because that's an effective way to distribute information."

Still, he believes very few people continue writing after their education ends. "I don't know many people who continue to write after they get out of school," he observes. "Some do, but most don't. We talk to communicate and develop very effective talking skills."

He finds it surprising that we make assumptions that because people can communicate skillfully when they talk, that they can do it when they write. Employers assume that everyone can write, and individuals typically think they can write. But Gaidosch feels these are faulty notions. "Just because you speak well doesn't mean you write well."

Where Writing Works

In the work world he thinks writing is essential. "Most of us don't have that preferential background that helps us get ahead in our careers. We have to depend on our skills to get ahead in our jobs. Your ticket is how you express yourself. It's not a question of what you know, but how you communicate what you know. Writing clearly helps you be successful."

Gaidosch also argues that companies may be losing out when their workers are less literate. If you can't communicate effectively between individuals and layers of management, you are not operating as efficiently as you could be. According to Gaidosch, that affects productivity and, ultimately, profitability.

Gaidosch, whose writing classes draw young adults as well as more mature individuals, finds a wide discrepancy between what students know and what they can communicate in writing.

He often does a simple diagnostic test at the outset of the class, asking a student's opinions about a certain topic. When they talk about the topic, their thoughts are organized, they have a good sense of vocabulary and communicate ideas clearly.

The same person, asked to state the opinion in writing, will stumble trying to be coherent. "You would think the responses came from two different people," notes Gaidosch, the author of two books on how to write that are available from his website, profsecrets.com.

When he meets with corporate recruiters, Gaidosch asks them what they are looking for in college graduates. "They invariably say they want graduates who can read, write and think clearly. They say they'll teach them whatever else they need to know."

Yet for some reason, he believes, writing gets short shrift. It's a reality he cannot explain. "I don't know why that is. We want people who can organize, link ideas and lead. Those are the qualities that come from people who know how to communicate. Writing is part of that communication process."

SIDEBAR: The Last Word on Good Writing

Once upon a time, when I could hold both my boys on my lap, I loved reading children's stories aloud. It was a nightly ritual I relished, as I shared not only the wonder of imagination but the power of the English language.

More often than not, I stumbled upon stories that made me marvel. I never, for example, would have thought the plight of a pig would ever command my attention. Yet, as I read the story of Charlotte's Web, I found myself riveted to the writing.

When I looked to see who wrote it, my jaw dropped. Where, I wondered, did one of America's most influential men of letters get the inspiration to write a children's book? I should say books. (Remember Stuart Little?)

To me, E.B. White was co-author of the biggest little book on the art of writing, The Elements of Style. To this day, I recommend the pocketbook to all who want to write better.

Elements is a model of brevity, and by example sets the standard for any aspiring writer. In essence, the authors are saying "See, good writing is easy." In no more than a few hours, the book will provide you with more insight about writing than you can remember learning in high school or college.

Is better writing worth the effort? Certainly to someone like myself who deals with words every day. But what about the jobseeker or the employee? Regardless of whether it's an integral part of your job, writing is an invaluable skill, especially if you realize that clear writing reflects (and requires) clear thinking. Sloppy writing, on the other hand, can indicate a shoddy attitude toward work.

How else can you improve your writing? Below are a few pointers I have developed over the years.

The key to all good writing is rewriting. Write the first draft without fear, knowing that you can make any necessary changes on the next go round.

Use your own words. Don't puff up your writing with pompous language. Also avoid jargon. Good writing is creative, complete and concise - several steps above email without approaching the sentence structure of the tax code.

Know your audience. My primary audience is comprised of jobseekers. Who are you writing to? Your current or prospective boss? The board of directors? By imagining your audience as you write, your work will improve. What do they need to know? What will interest them? What will not?

Search for the dramatic. In my business, news is drama. What dramatic things have happened in your career? Search out the unusual and use it in your cover letters. If you are working on a research report for work, organize your writing around the most interesting findings. Let content shape style.

If you have time, set your writing aside for several days. You will be surprised what time will tell you. Good writing rings true; weak wording wilts.

Put your subconscious to work. Sometimes by switching from project to project, I find my subconscious comes up with a better phrase or approach. I have come to look at this skill as my own personal writing assistant.

Read what you write. Sounds pretty basic. Yet consider these errors the Job Journal has received from real applicants. Would you hire the person who wrote "I am very interesting in this position." Or the masochistic soul who wrote "Objective: Seeking an entry-level position with a stale company." How about this possessed individual: "Administrative professional with years of experience in a stock broker." Then there is the master of language who wrote: "I have a BA in English. This will avail it's self in the writing of the advertisements. I can writing using phrases and abbreviations as well." Clearly these writers' thoughts were lost in translation. So were their opportunities.

Ask a friend to read your work. Even if you proofread your own writing, you may be missing something. Ask someone whose language skills you respect to give your writing the once over.

Develop a thick skin. You have to learn to accept criticism without taking it personally. Every writer's career is punctuated with red ink. The more you embrace the help, the more you will learn.

Finally, you can improve your writing by reading. By exposing yourself to the written word, you subconsciously develop an ear for the language. Certainly it helped my boys. It's my belief my sons grew up able to write so well because I spent all those hours reading to them. Call it a father's fairy tale.