Manage Misused Word Pairs
These five word pairs often trip up business writers. Learn to distinguish between their/they’re/there, accept/except, affect/effect and others.
Writing Clearly
5 Ways to Cut Through the Noise and Write to Distracted Readers
Interruptions plague today’s business readers more than ever before. Between notifications, emails, text messages, voicemails, and physical interruptions, most people find it challenging to sit down and read through a written message. Research indicates that our brains carom off in another direction about every 44 to 50 seconds when we are engaged with a screen.
Yet as business writers, we want our readers to read through our messages and comprehend them. An important project may depend on everyone reading a report. A major sale may hinge on the prospect reading our proposal.
To defeat digital distraction, we need to understand it and work around it when we write.
“As simple as possible but no simpler”
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” This quote is attributed to Albert Einstein, one of the greatest scientists in history, yet it relates to business communication as much as science. When we strike a balance between simplicity and accuracy, we reach the golden mean where we communicate successfully. In a …
Build Your Credibility by Avoiding These Writing Errors
Whenever you write, your credibility is on the line. Your readers assess your trustworthiness, intelligence, competence, and attention to detail with every word you compose. You might have a great product or service, but if your messaging seems untrustworthy, you jeopardize your success.
4 Secrets to Overcoming Writer’s Block
Let’s face it — writing can be scary. Whether you are writing a report, performance review or proposal, or any business document, you worry about how your reader will respond. When your concerns about writing lead to an inability to start, work on or complete a writing task, you might suffer from writer’s block.