Effective Writing in the Public Sector

Intended for both students and practitioners in public administration who want to communicate more effectively with a variety of audiences, this book offers clear, easy-to-understand guidelines on how to write more clearly, concisely, and coherently, as well as correctly. It covers the basics of good English and applies those basics to general forms (such as memos, letters, and e-mails) and more specific forms (such as newsletters, proposals, budget justifications, and rules) used in the public sector.

John W. Swain has taught public administration courses for more than thirty-five years. He has also provided training to and worked with a wide variety of staff members, administrators, and officials in the public sector. His previously published books focus on public budgeting, public finance administration, and local government. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire (B.A.) and Northern Illinois University (M.A. and Ph.D.).

Kathleen Dolan Swain has been an editor for more than twenty years, working primarily the field of scholarly publishing. She has also worked extensively in the development of curriculum materials and has written news and feature articles for local news outlets. She is a graduate of Marquette University (B.A. in political science and history) and Northern Illinois University (M.A. in political science).