People use the term “Business Writing.” Is there really such a thing? Business Writing Isn’t Just Writing! First things first, let’s debunk a common misconception: business writing is more than just writing. It’s a skill set distinct from academic writing, which often prioritizes complexity over clarity.Long, cascading sentences are difficult to read and require extra … Read On >
Pronouns refer to other words (called “antecedents”). The “other word” needs to be very clear to the audience before you can use a pronoun to refer to it.
Grammar Costs Time and MONEY Some experts estimate that the US economy wastes $75 billion annually because of poor English skills. Others say that 80 percent of corporate waste can be tied directly to ineffective communications. A lot of focus has been put on speaking skills, because really, who writes anymore, right? Well, if you … Read On >
Using Who or Whom when writing. WHO or WHOM? We all know that there’s a difference between when to use WHO or when to use WHOM. But could you explain what to do? The confusion between who and whom when writing is an issue that many people struggle with. As language evolves, common every day speech is much more forgiving on the usage of … Read On >
Linguistic Precision = Less Explaining Later “If you want to try a good dish at the restaurant, order the ‘Linguistic Precision.’ It’s not bad!” What does “good” really mean here? What does “bad” mean? Help your audience. Choose exact words to express your idea. That’s linguistic precision. “Nice,” “good,” and “bad” are vaguedescriptive words. They don’t tell … Read On >
What’s the plural form of “deer”? Do you know how to pluralize correctly? Getting it wrong, and having your error discovered means a loss of credibility. Forming plurals of nouns correctly will show your audience that you’re smart and can communicate with respect. That is why we cover this in our business writing class. apple … Read On >
What is an “Epic Fail”? The term, “FAIL” is widely used as an Internet trope where people superimpose the word, “FAIL” on images of the unsuccessful, or that which does not live up to what is expected. Usually, these FAILs aim to make people laugh and are quite funny. A few years ago, a teacher … Read On >
When it is appropriate to use abbreviations?
Using Capital Letters Using capital letters properly is a sign of respect for your audience and subject. By not using, or misusing capital letters, your readers may think that you don’t know what’s correct (or even worse, don’t care). It may send a message to others that makes you look thoughtless. None of us would … Read On >