Who hasn’t started writing a thank-you or condolence note, only to encounter "the big um" after the first sentence? "The big um is when you get your first couple of words out and wonder, ‘What’s next?’" says Angela Ensminger, co-author of On a Personal Note: A Guide to Writing Notes with Style. "That blank paper is very intimidating." Great personal notes come from taking these five steps:
Sure, you’ve glanced at the organization’s balance sheet. But do you know what all those financial terms really mean? First step: Match the financial terms below left with their correct definitions on the right.
A reader asks: “Is there a hard-and-fast rule regarding ‘that’ and ‘which?’” One way to figure out when to use “that” versus “which”: Take a look at the whole sentence, and then decide whether the word will introduce an essential or nonessential clause. “That” introduces clauses that are essential to understanding the sentence’s meaning, while […]
Using PowerPoint visuals that only Einstein could decipher doesn’t make the presenter look smarter. Complicated visuals will cause an audience to focus less on what the presenter is saying and more on trying to figure out the images. Here are seven rules for keeping visuals clear and powerful:
One reader asks: “Please clarify the use of the word ‘I’ when using a pronoun with another name, such as: ‘These are the vacation schedules for Joan and I.’ Do you use I or me?” Whenever you’re unsure of which pronoun to use in a situation like this and don’t have time to dig into […]
Your organization has narrowed the field to two candidates for an administrative position. Both are experienced, both personable. How to choose? Nancy Brown has devised a way to make the right choice…
People tend to overuse the passive voice because they think it’s more professional. In truth, readers prefer active sentences for their more direct and engaging tone. How can you spot a passive sentence? Three telltale signs: 1. Something happens to the subject of the sentence. Example: “The report was written last week.” 2. It contains […]
Starting off a letter or an e-mail message with a drab opening (“This is in response to …” or “Enclosed please find”) is a sure-fire way to put your readers to sleep just in time to miss your most important points. Add variety—and persuasiveness—to your messages by starting sentences with words that grab readers. Here’s […]