Many researchers have addressed the problems of student writers, but as of late 1979, when I surveyed 254 topand mid-level managers, we still had little information about the problems of adult writers. The respondents were among the thousands of people who earn technical, legal, and scientific degrees, move into management, and find not only that they must write as part of their jobs, but also that promotions frequently depend upon their ability to communicate clearly and exactly. Ineffective writing can slow their rise through managerial ranks and, perhaps, prevent their reaching top executive positions. Some even change career directions because of writing problems. The survey indicates that two elements-one technical and one attitudinal-by fueling each other, sabotage the writing of many otherwise competent people. Although they are generally proficient in grammar and punctuation, these managers lack knowledge about the value of preparation or planning before writing the first draft. If they know that they should plan their documents, their ignorance of any method by which to do it causes anxiety, defensiveness, and reluctance to approach writing tasks until the last minute. As a result these professionally trained people produce disorganized and ineffective writing. Repeated criticism of documents that do not properly convey their messages very likely causes these people increased anxiety about writing and greater reluctance to approach the next writing task. The long run costs to business from inept writing have been estimated in the millions in slowed productivity, confused instructions, inexact reports, and defaulted contracts. The costs to individuals in diminished confidence, blasted hopes, and unfulfilled ambitions are incalculable. However, when I planned the survey, I was more interested in ferreting out problems in writing technique and language structure than in identifying attitudes. After all, adults in responsible positions, many with advanced degrees, had outgrown their adolescent anxieties, right? Wrong. Writing anxi-