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Book Summary
Actual Business Correspondence by P.H. Deffendall is a practical guide to professional letter writing, offering model letters, phrasing, and formatting for common business situations. Though undated, its principles of clarity, tone, and structure remain useful for students, office workers, and anyone seeking to improve written communication in commerce and administration.
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About Actual Business Correspondence
Actual Business Correspondence by P.H. Deffendall is a vintage instructional text focused on the art of writing effective business letters. It provides model correspondence for inquiries, orders, complaints, adjustments, collections, and applications, along with guidance on tone, structure, and etiquette. The book emphasizes clarity, conciseness, and courtesy—qualities still valued in professional communication. While its examples reflect an earlier era of commerce, the underlying principles of audience awareness and purposeful writing remain relevant. It serves as both a historical snapshot of office practice and a practical reference for learners of business English or office administration. Readers can adapt its templates and lessons to modern email and formal correspondence.
Who should read Actual Business Correspondence?
This book suits students of business English, office administration, and secretarial studies who need models of formal correspondence. It also benefits early-career professionals seeking to improve letter and email etiquette, and history enthusiasts interested in the evolution of commercial writing. Teachers of business communication may use it as a source of classic examples. Anyone who values clear, courteous, and well-structured professional writing will find useful guidance, though modern readers should adapt dated conventions to current practice.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Provides numerous model letters for common business situations
- ✓ Emphasizes timeless principles of clarity, conciseness, and courtesy
- ✓ Useful for learners of business English and office administration
- ✓ Serves as a historical reference for the evolution of commercial writing
- ✓ Templates can be adapted to modern email and formal correspondence
Cons
- ✗ Examples reflect outdated commercial practices and conventions
- ✗ No modern coverage of email, digital communication, or contemporary etiquette
- ✗ Lacks an index or updated commentary in some editions
- ✗ May feel dated to readers seeking current business writing advice
- ✗ Assumes familiarity with formal letter formatting that is less common today
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Frequently asked questions
Is this book still relevant for modern business writing?
Yes, its core principles—clarity, conciseness, and courtesy—remain relevant, though readers should adapt dated conventions to contemporary email and digital formats.
What types of letters does the book cover?
It covers inquiries, orders, complaints, adjustments, collections, applications, and other common commercial correspondence, with model examples.
Who is the author, P.H. Deffendall?
P.H. Deffendall was an author of business and commercial textbooks in the early twentieth century, focusing on practical office skills.
Is this suitable for students learning business English?
Yes, it provides useful models and phrasing for formal correspondence, though learners should supplement it with modern communication examples.
Does the book include exercises or practice activities?
It is primarily a reference of model letters and guidance rather than a workbook; it may not include extensive exercises.
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