The study investigated the differences in writing styles between males and females
in an undergraduate business communications class. The samples included a per
suasive request letter, a sales letter, and a collection letter. Twenty dimensions of style
were evaluated: number of words, number of sentences, number of passive verbs, use of
the direct/indirect plan, number of abbreviations, number of contractions, number of
specific references, number of courtesy words, action demanded /requested, number of
jargon and slang words, number of intensifiers, number of qualifiers and disclaimers,
number of superlatives, number of negative words, number of extravagant adjectives,
number of sports and military-related words, number of hostile verbs, tag questions,
average sentence length, and percent of passive verbs.
Analysis of Variance tests showed significant differences by letter but not by gender,
with no significant interaction between letter and gender. Discriminate Analysis
produced a signiftcant linear equation with eight style dimensions; however, the eight
variables accounted for only 14.9 percent of the variance.
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