How to use bullet points effectively
In business writing, bullet points often replace regular old paragraphs, with good reason: Readers can scan them faster. Stick to these standards for using bullets effectively:
Category: Communication
Caught in another ‘question trap’ on the job?
Sarah spent the afternoon working on a quarterly report for her boss, only to hear this when she delivered it at day’s end: “This isn’t a final version, is it? It won’t be a problem for you to work overtime today and fix this, will it?” Her boss just delivered a question trap—a leading question.
1-Minute Strategies: April ’12
Hold a mobile device at eye level to avoid “text neck.” Dr. Dean Fishman adopted the phrase after seeing a huge influx of younger patients visiting his chiropractor facility … Avoid writing redundant combinations that give readers a sense of “deja vu all over again” …
To whom it may concern
When to use “who” and “whom,” which confuses many people:
5 things you shouldn’t say to your boss
Build a stronger relationship with your boss by never letting these phrases cross your lips: 1. “It’s not my job.” 2. “It’s not my fault.” 3. “I can’t work with Person A.” 4. “I can’t do X, because I have to do Y.” 5. “That’s not possible.”
Business writing: Is it ‘100’ or ‘one hundred’?
Is it “100” or “one hundred”? Know how to express a number in your business writing with these rules from Daily Writing Tips:
Use improv to improve listening skills
Most improv performers could tell you about this crucial rule of great improv: You’ve got to listen to your scene partner. Otherwise, you may miss an important cue or the opportunity to collaborate on a creative idea. It’s the same in the workplace. Here’s an improv activity that’s worth a try:
Grammar Repair Shop: Beware these misuses and abuses
Elevate your business writing by ridding it of these common misuses and abuses: 1. Ill-placed question marks. 2. Cool-sounding buzzwords. 3. Clichés.
1-Minute Strategies: March ’12
Give your résumé a 21st century update by making it search-optimized for Google … Memorize this rule when typing: one space after a period at the end of a sentence … Use this email best practice …
Answer the boss’s tough questions
The boss shares an idea, and then asks, “What do you think?” You don’t have an instant answer. How do you avoid looking stumped?