Poor Writing Costs Businesses Money

man looking confused, poor writing is bad for business

When most business owners think about costs, they focus on obvious expenses like labour, rent or equipment. Yet there’s another drain that quietly erodes profits every day; poor writing. From ambiguous emails to sloppy contracts, unclear language can cost you time, customers and cold hard cash.

Poor writing wastes employee time

Technology analyst Josh Bernoff’s research found that workers waste 6 % of total U.S. wages trying to interpret poorly written documents. That translates to a staggering $396 billion of national income lost each year. No wonder 81 % of business people agree that poorly written material “wastes a lot of my time".

Grammarly’s 2024 State of Business Communication Report echoes this concern. It estimates that miscommunication costs U.S. businesses $1.2 trillion annually, and notes that one in five business leaders say they’ve actually lost business because of poor communication. In other words, unclear writing isn’t just annoying, it’s expensive.

Legal mistakes can be costly

Poor writing doesn’t just waste time; it can trigger lawsuits. In one famous case, the absence of a single Oxford comma in a Maine labour law cost a dairy company $5 million in overtime pay. The sentence in question left it unclear whether “packing for shipment or distribution” was one activity or two. A simple comma would have saved millions.

The stakes can be even higher. When General Motors downplayed a dangerous ignition‑switch flaw as a “customer convenience problem” rather than a safety issue, the miscommunication delayed a recall and led to 2.6 million cars being recalled at a cost of $1.7 billion. Unclear language can kill reputations, and, in extreme cases, people.

Poor writing ruins productivity

Ambiguous instructions or muddled tone create confusion, forcing colleagues to seek clarification or redo work. That extra time is time not spent on value‑added activities, which is why Bernoff calls bad writing a “tax we all pay. The Instructional Solutions study notes that ambiguous messages, inappropriate tone and sloppy editing all contribute to unnecessary delays and lost opportunities.

How clear writing drives profit

The flip side is that effective communication pays dividends. In Grammarly’s survey, 43 % of business leaders said good communication helped them win new business, and 51 % saw higher customer satisfaction. When your messages are clear, customers trust you, employees act quickly and deals close smoothly.

What you can do

1. Put yourself in your reader’s shoes. Before writing, ask: What’s the point? Why should they care? What do I want them to do? This lean‑communication technique helps you be concise and clear.

2. Avoid “wordos.” Double‑check that you’ve used the correct word in the right context. A misplaced word can baffle readers and damage your credibility.

3. Invest in professional writing. Whether you’re drafting a contract, a marketing email or a report, polished copy is an investment, not a cost. A professional copywriter will ensure your message is clear, persuasive and free of costly ambiguities.

At Copysella, we live by “The Power of the Pen.” We’ve seen how clear, compelling writing boosts conversions, strengthens brands and avoids costly misunderstandings. If you’d like help sharpening your message and protecting your bottom line, get in touch today because in business, every word counts.