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Essentials of Business Communication, 13th Edition

Mary Ellen Guffey, Dana Loewy

  • Copyright 2027
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2026-02-26T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $59.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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Essentials of Business Communication 13th Edition by Mary Ellen Guffey/Dana Loewy
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Overview

"Essentials of Business Communication," 13th Edition, by Guffey/Loewy helps instructors prepare students for a workplace shaped by AI, automation and evolving communication norms. This award-winning text, paired with MindTap online homework, solves key challenges -- students often lack strategic writing, speaking and soft skills employers demand. The narrative delivers unmatched grammar coverage and clear instruction in professional communication -- ethical AI use, emotional intelligence, teamwork and critical thinking. Instructors choose it to build job-ready, articulate graduates who can thrive in any industry.

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Meet the Authors

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Mary Ellen Guffey

A dedicated professional, Mary Ellen Guffey has taught business communication and business English for over 35 years. She received a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Bowling Green State University, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a doctorate in business and economic education from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has taught at the University of Illinois, Santa Monica College and Los Angeles Pierce College. Recognized as the world’s leading business communication author, Dr. Guffey corresponds with instructors around the globe who are using her award-winning books: "Business Communication: Process and Product," "Business English" and "Essentials of Business Communication," each the most popular learning platform in its market.

Dana Loewy

Dana Loewy taught business communication at California State University, Fullerton, for two decades. Concurrently she also taught various German courses and was a regular guest lecturer at Fachhochschule Nürtingen, Germany. In addition, she is a business etiquette consultant certified by The Protocol School of Washington and occasionally advises organizations in the United States and several European countries on strategic and intercultural communication. Dr. Loewy holds a master’s degree from Bonn University, Germany, and earned a Ph.D. in English at the University of Southern California. Active in professional associations, Dr. Loewy participates in international conferences, runs a successful blog (BizComBuzz) and is committed to creating effective learning materials for business communication students.

What's New

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  • Skills-based and AI-ready: Focused on hands-on practice, this text helps students master real-world communication for today’s tech-driven workplace.
  • Trusted, up-to-date content: Current research and deep coverage of AI, ethics, tech trends and workplace issues is included, not just surface updates.
  • Job-ready skills: Build writing, speaking and soft skills, plus résumé tips to beat applicant filters and thrive in roles AI can’t easily replace.

Features

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  • MindTap online learning: The text combines eBook, grammar review, feedback-rich assignments, videos and more and is fully integrated and customizable for your LMS.
  • Instructor support: The text includes full solutions, discussion prompts, auto-graded MindTap homework and quizzes designed to save time and enrich teaching.
  • Focus on Grammar: The text offers Editing Challenges, Radical Rewrites and a full appendix to help students sharpen grammar and mechanics skills.
  • Reliable instructor resources: All ancillaries, including test banks and flashcards, are reviewed in-house for quality and accuracy.

Table of Contents

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Unit I: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION IN THE INFORMATION AGE.
1. Communicating at Work in the Age of AI.
Unit II: THE WRITING PROCESS IN THE DIGITAL ERA.
2. Planning Business Messages.
3. Organizing and Drafting Business Messages.
4. Revising Business Messages.
Unit III: WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION.
5. Short Workplace Messages, Digital Media, and AI.
6. Positive and Neutral Messages.
7. Bad-News Messages.
8. Persuasive and Sales Messages
Unit IV: BUSINESS REPORTS AND PROPOSALS—BEST PRACTICES.
9. Informal Reports.
10. Proposals and Formal Reports.
Unit V: PROFESSIONALISM, TEAMWORK, MEETINGS, AND SPEAKING SKILLS.
11. Professionalism at Work: Business Etiquette, Teamwork, and Meetings.
12. Business Presentations.
Unit VI: EMPLOYMENT COMMUNICATION.
13. The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Messages in the Age of AI.
14. Interviewing and Following Up.
Appendix A: Document Format Guide.
Appendix B: Citation Formats.
Appendix C: Correction Symbols and Proofreading Marks.
Appendix D: Grammar/Mechanics Handbook With Review Exercises (Including Confusing Words and 160 Frequently Misspelled Words).
Glossary (Available within MindTap).
Endnotes.
Index.

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MindTap Options

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MindTap
Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

Recommended and most popular

  • ISBN-10: 8214528878
  • ISBN-13: 9798214528878
  • RETAIL $84.95
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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 8214052203
  • ISBN-13: 9798214052205
  • RETAIL $59.95

  • ISBN-10: 8214052130
  • ISBN-13: 9798214052137
  • RETAIL $800.00
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap for Guffey/Loewy's Essentials of Business Communication, 2 terms Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214528878
MindTap is an online learning platform that serves as a companion to your Cengage textbook. It offers powerful tools for quizzes and tests, grading and performance analytics, making it easier for you to track progress, identify learning gaps and support every student. With it, students get full access to their eBooks, along with a wide range of supplemental materials, including practice activities and study support to help them build confidence, master course concepts and build real-world skills. Use MindTap for Guffey/Loewy's "Essentials of Business Communication," 13th Edition, as-is, or personalize it to meet your specific course needs. You can also integrate MindTap into your existing Learning Management System (LMS), keeping everything you need in one place.