From the category archives:
This one paragraph contains a business writing error. Find and correct it:
Last year’s sales reports and salary structures prove that profit-sharing plans incentivize employees to meet sales goals. Sales were 8% higher for those employees who received a bonus based on their profitability, instead of their longevity.
Explanation:
This contains a recently coined business-speak “verb,” which is [...]
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Coincidentally, three clients requested clarification today about using “that” and “which” in a sentence.
There is an easy rule to remember. “That” introduces essential information in a “restrictive clause.” “Which” introduces extra information in a “nonrestrictive clause.”
“That” Example:
“Business writing expertise is the skill that is most valued.” The clause “that is most valued” [...]
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Is grammar or content more important in business writing?
And, perhaps a related question is: why do so many people dislike grammar, to the point where the dislike spreads to grammarians and English teachers and – dare I add – business writing consultants?
Some examples:
In every business writing course I teach, when we start to address grammar [...]
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Despite being asked many times about the correct use of serial commas (also known as Oxford commas), I dreaded writing this post. I was scarred by this subject while in graduate school, when I had to write a 10-page paper on the history and merits/detriments of the serial comma. It was so boring. And, grammarians [...]
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Reader Question:
I noticed in your post about the power of short words in business writing, you capitalized “Bible.” Why?
Answer:
In that instance, I was referring to the Christian Bible, so it is a proper noun. Proper nouns are capitalized, just like London.
Additionally, works regarded as sacred should be capitalized (but do not quote, italicize, or underline). [...]
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Louise Julig wrote a wonderful post about hyphens in her Thoughts Happen blog.
It’s both clarifying and funny. She wore a purple wrist band to remind her of her pledge not to complain. The problem? The bracelet omitted a needed hyphen, prompting Louise’s grammar complaint:
Argh! I just can’t stand it anymore! I’ve been doing this purple-bracelet [...]
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“Biannual” is a confusing word, and most often does not clarify meaning for your readers. If a report is issued biannually, does this mean one receives it twice a year or every two years?
Even a careful study of root meaning does not shed much light. Consider these two excellent sources:
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
biannual • \bye-AN-yuh-wul\ • adjective
1. [...]
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Here is a fun question from a reader:
My wife and I each own a Blackberry. If we place them together in Blackberry harmony on our table, do they become Blackberries or Blackberrys, in plural form? In other words, which is correct:
*”The Blackberries are on the table.”
Or
*”The Blackberrys are on the table.”
ANSWER:
Most words ending in “y” [...]
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If you believe you are too busy to write email and text messages that are clear and grammatically correct, and thereby professionally appealing, think again. Despite a grueling schedule during the campaign, President-Elect Obama still managed it.
According to the New York Times, despite the fact that “His BlackBerry was constantly crackling with e-mails,” Obama’s outgoing [...]
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John’s is possessive so it needs the apostrophe, but thing’s is plural only (not possessive), so it needs no apostrophe. This should read: John’s Things.
I so wish I had my camera with me this morning because I saw two signs alerting shoppers they would find CDs in the area. They read:
CD’s and CDs
I had [...]
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