As we become an electronic society, writing seems to become less important. But knowing how to write things like lists, letters and messages is still necessary.

Lists help you remember things, organize your days and even your thoughts. For example, lists may help you remember what you need at the store. They may help you remember things you may need to finish in a day. They may help you plan for a vacation. If you can use lists effectively, you will remember most of what you need to.

Letters are also very important. You might want to write a letter to a friend or family member who lives far away. It sounds easy, but unless you know how to write with a purpose, write clearly, format and edit your work, your friend may not be able to understand what you have written. Letters are also important for another reason. You might want to write a letter to order merchandise, to complain when something you bought doesn't work, to raise an important issue in a newspaper, or even to compliment someone who has given you good service. It is important to know how to write a formal letter so that you will be taken seriously.

Finally, writing messages sounds simple enough, but if you can't write a clear and understandable message, the person you're writing it for may not be able to understand what you are trying to say. Writing messages is important in the workplace and at home. If someone counts on you to remember to tell something to someone else, writing a message is the most effective way to remember.

Lists

Lists are groups of things people write down to help them remember and organize their lives. You might make a list of the foods you need to buy when you go grocery shopping, or a list of appointments you have during the day, a list of questions to ask during a job interview or while hiring someone to do a job, or even a list to help you get ready for a trip. Finally, you might make a list of directions to help you or someone else find a location or to help someone do a job.

There are two kinds of lists: column lists and line lists. In a column list, you write the words one underneath the other. In a line list, you write the words on the same line using a comma to separate them. Look at the two lists below:

Column list	Line list