No hyphen required
Question: In the following sentence, should the words “on site” be hyphenated? They removed the trees and dumped them on site.
Category: Communication
1-Minute Strategies: May ’10
Elevate the clarity of your writing by using the inverted pyramid style that journalists use … Go ahead, give someone a high five or a supportive pat on the back … Send large files fast by using a free service such as YouSendIt Lite … Gain credibility by stripping “marketese” from your writing geared toward customers … Double-check e-mail messages where the stakes are high.
Overcoming the ‘quiet person’ label
Question: “Although I’m viewed positively at work, I believe my reserved demeanor is holding me back. I’m not shy, but I have trouble making small talk. In meetings, I give input whenever I’m asked, but seldom volunteer information … Can you suggest some communication strategies for meetings and social situations?”
Grammatical pitfalls
Steer clear of these three grammatical pitfalls: 1. “None”: It is always singular, never plural. 2. Learn when to use “lie” vs. “lay.” 3. It’s “between you and me,” not “you and I.”
4 lessons from stand-up comedy
Steve Cody, a public relations consultant who blogs as The Repman, says he’s learned four things about good communication from practicing stand-up comedy: 1. Courage builds courage. 2. Timing is (almost) everything. 3. It’s not just what you say, but how. 4. Humor works like a magnet.
3 secrets to collaboration
How well do you and your boss communicate? Two people working closely must communicate well in order to collaborate and work effectively. According to research from Gallup, people who are “excellent collaborators” give themselves high ratings for each of the following statements:
1-Minute Strategies: March ’10
Manage your “invisible résumé” by rewriting the sections you don’t like … Perfected your bragalogue yet? Communications coach Peggy Klaus swears by this self-promotion tool … Avoid this grammar misstep … Make your LinkedIn invitations stand out … Convince yourself of the power of checklists by reading The Checklist Manifesto.
Grammar Repair Shop: Ways to say ‘because’
“Because,” “due to,” “since”—which one is the right one to use? Use “because” instead of wordier options, such as “owing to the fact that” or “on the grounds that.” You could also use it instead of the persnickety “due to.” Example: “It was canceled because of illness.” “Since” often means the same thing as “because.”
Is ‘Dear’ in the salutation passé?
Has e-mail become so ubiquitous that it has changed the way we craft business correspondence? That’s what admins recently debated on our Admin Pro Forum. Some suspected that writing “Dear” or “Very truly yours” has become too old-fashioned for digital—or even printed—correspondence. A bevy of self-proclaimed “old-school” admins protested.
Grammar Repair Shop: Pesky apostrophes
When used incorrectly, apostrophes are a huge annoyance for readers such as Lynn Crocker of Comcast Spotlight. “What drives me nuts is people using apostrophes for plural things,” she says. “I’ve even seen people make signs that say, ‘We make key’s!’” Make sure you aren’t using apostrophes recklessly. Some tips: