Why Is Writing Important?

In high school, teachers who hand out essay assignments are often met with groans from the class. Why? Writing isn’t always easy! Yet, it’s one of the most essential skills to learn, no matter where your life may take you in the future.

Why is writing important? It’s the fuel that drives communication, and communication serves as a framework for society. Clear communication—and hence, good writing—is critical because it facilitates coworker collaborations, business transactions and interpersonal interactions.

In short, no matter what you plan on doing with your life or which academic fields interest you, you will need to know how to write effectively. It’s one reason why you can expect many college courses to have a writing- and reading-intensive curriculum. The more you practice your writing skills, the more they will improve.

Table of Contents:

• Why Writing Is Important for Landing a Job
• The Importance of Writing for All Types of Careers
• Why Is Writing Important in Your Personal Life?
• Tips for Improving Your Writing Skills

Why Writing Is Important for Landing a Job

One of the answers to the question, “Why is writing important?” is that it will help you. Consider the typical process of applying to a job. You’ll usually be asked to submit your resume and cover letter before the hiring manager will decide whether to invite you to schedule an interview.

Your resume and cover letter are like your gateway to the job you want. It’s vital to be able to write these items well so the hiring manager decides to extend an interview offer. Another skill worth investing in is email writing. You may need to send emailed inquiries to the HR department, for example. It’s essential to be able to write well enough to impress the HR staff, and to ensure that your writing reflects a high degree of professionalism. 

Landing the job you desire is just one reason why writing is important. You’ll also need writing skills to do your job well.

The Importance of Writing for All Types of Careers

There are certain careers in which solid writing skills are absolutely essential, such as journalism, copywriting and technical writing. Yet, even if you do not intend on becoming a professional writer, you’ll still need to know how to communicate clearly and effectively. The ability to communicate is vital whether you plan on becoming a nurse, cybersecurity expert, public servant, police officer or any other type of worker. 

Written communication skills are essential for allowing employees to coordinate their work, collaborate with coworkers and respond to clients. However, there are some hidden attributes of a good writer.

Employers generally recognize that someone who demonstrates good writing skills is more likely to be someone who thinks clearly, knows how to organize information and understands how to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. As a result, good writers may be more likely to work well with other people. Plus, their ability to organize information in logical ways can support their problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

When an employer sees employees or job candidates who possess good writing skills, they tend to form the following opinions about these people:

• They are intelligent. Grammatical errors, poorly formed sentences and improper word choices can make a person seem less intelligent than they might actually be.
• They are credible. Solid writing implies that the writer is competent, and this leads to credibility and authoritativeness.
• They understand professionalism. A good writer is able to convey professionalism in written communication.
• They are organized. The act of writing requires the careful organization of information before it can be presented in a logical form.

Why Is Writing Important in Your Personal Life?

Take a few minutes to reflect on what you’ve done so far today. Perhaps you checked your social media feeds, read the newspaper, checked out the latest emailed announcements about your classes or texted with your family about an upcoming get-together—not to mention taken a few minutes to read this blog. There are very few activities in life that do not involve any reading or writing. 

Being a fluent reader and skilled writer are critically important in all aspects of your life. Beyond its importance for your career, knowing how to write clearly and engagingly supports your interpersonal interactions with family, friends and peers. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the reasons why it’s important to know how to write well.

• When you know how to choose words carefully, you can reduce the risk of creating misunderstandings in your social media posts and comments.
• If you decide to keep a daily journal, writing is an act that can give you greater self-clarity, and which you can use to ponder your next steps or figure out the solution to a problem.
• If you’re stressed, writing down what troubles you is a way to unburden your mind.
• Writing personal letters—whether via email or old-fashioned snail mail—is an excellent way to stay in touch with family and friends that you do not often see in person.

Good writing and reading skills go hand-in-hand. When you actively work on improving your own writing skills, you may be better able to appreciate excellent writing created by others. This can enhance your enjoyment of both works of fiction and nonfiction.

Tips for Improving Your Writing Skills

Now that you understand the importance of writing, it’s time to take a look at ways of improving your skills. One of the most effective ways to improve your writing skills is to become a voracious reader.

Read a wide variety of materials—from novels and nonfiction books to magazine and newspaper articles to industry blogs. Daily reading broadens your mind, expands your vocabulary and instills writing techniques.

In the workplace, your written communication should be concise, clear, well-organized and professional. Remember to keep your intended audience in mind. For instance, if you’re communicating with a client or customer, your writing should convey warmth and friendliness, as well as professionalism.

Always proofread your writing before finalizing a document or clicking “Send” on an email. When proofreading, check for these issues:

• Unnecessary words
• Repeated words and phrases
• Run-on sentences
• Grammatical mistakes
• Misspellings (double-check names and other proper nouns for accuracy)

If possible, set aside a piece to proofread the next day. You’re more likely to catch mistakes if you wait a while to proofread.

Grand Canyon University supports and celebrates our students’ academic and career-oriented accomplishments. When you become a student at GCU, you’ll receive full access to our many resources and support systems, including the Student Success Center. Here, you will find a wide range of tools to facilitate learning, including resources to guide you through the process of writing papers for your classes. 

Click on Request Info at the top of your screen to explore our academic resources and learn about our degree options.