Research has proven that the ideal average length for a sentence is 10 to 17 words. Does this mean that you will die from having a 25-word sentence? No. Carefully crafted, sentences can sometimes far exceed the recommended length. The secret is that if you must have a 17+word sentence, sandwich it between two shorter […]
Simplify Your Sentences Read More »
[4-minute read] Do you ever feel frustrated by your team members’ writing? In my experience, managers often give what they think is a straightforward writing assignment. The document they get back requires so much editing that they could have done it quicker themselves. Then they spend precious time red-lining the draft, send it back to
Assigning Writing Projects Successfully Read More »
[5-minute read] Never use a long word when a short one will do. — George Orwell During World War 2, Winston Churchill was asked to deliver the commencement address at a British boys’ school. The staff was thrilled to have the Prime Minister addressing the students. After a long introduction, Churchill took the podium. He said,
Best Words to Use in a Crisis Read More »
[2-minute read] I recently heard a businessman giving a testimonial. He said, “I can’t thank Bill enough for what he did for me.” My first reaction was, “Why not give it a try?” What did he mean when he said he couldn’t thank the person enough? That he could thank him, but he won’t? I believe he meant something
“I Could Care Less”… or could I? Read More »
[6-minute read] A prominent attorney called me yesterday with an embarrassing question. “I’m helping my daughter write her college entrance essay, so we have to get this right,” he said. This man went to a well-known law school and earns a hefty salary in litigating complex cases. Nevertheless, he was stumped by one of the
Avoid Common Vexations: Mistaken Word Pairs Read More »
