Business Writing

Washington State of Confusion

[NOTE: This information was updated in October 2014.] I live in the state of Washington. I live in Washington State. And when it comes to capitalization, it's the state of confusion. Why? Because various style manuals recommend capitalizing differently. When state comes after the state's name, it is capitalized, according... Read more →

Tips on Proposals That Win

My current monthly e-newsletter, Better Writing at Work, offers 21 tips for writing winning business proposals. Here are the first three, plus a bonus suggestion from a reader. If you like what you read, subscribe here. And if you already subscribe, thank you--see the bonus tip below. Tip 1: Obey... Read more →

Ants in the Classroom, Reply to All

I was teaching a seminar in a ground-floor classroom for a favorite client, and I was charged with making coffee for the group. Setting up the coffee, sugar, cream, etc., I noticed quite a few tiny ants on the table. I swept them into the trash with a wet paper... Read more →

Help With Your Holiday Writing

Update on December 27, 2011: For current new year's greetings, read this post. With the holiday season upon us and the end of 2007 approaching, I want to share some resources and templates for your holiday business writing. Here are past blog entries that people have found helpful: Sending Holiday... Read more →

Email Conversations--Pro and Con

Last week I led a Writing Tune-Up for a world-class investment company. When we talked about new rules for email, one woman suggested this rule: Don't have business discussions in email. It's not efficient. If you want to talk with a group of people, schedule a meeting and send out... Read more →

Your Untethered Reader

Earlier this week I got a good email tip from a participant in the Writing Tune-Up. When I asked for additional rules for email etiquette and efficiency, Tom offered this one: If you have a deadline within a few days, don't just communicate it in email. Pick up the phone... Read more →

What Amazing Feet!

On a coffee break in a recent business writing workshop, an attendee was checking her email. Suddenly she laughed a hearty "Hah! Hah! Hah!" People scattered around the room wondered what could be so funny. She explained: "I'm reading an email I was copied on. It's a thank you to... Read more →

Lost on a Web Site

I just received an email response from an online company. I had visited their site, wanting to buy a gift certificate for my husband. But I couldn't figure out how to do it. Was a gift certificate considered a product? If so, would it be in their online catalog? Because... Read more →

A Good Set of Conference Room Rules

Here's another example of good writing. I found this set of rules just inside the door of a conference room at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where I was teaching Better Business Writing this week. Conference Room Rules If you use it, you are responsible to: Clean up after use, including... Read more →

A Great Letter from My Doctor

With examples of weak writing everywhere, I wanted to share an example of an excellent letter I received from my doctor at Group Health Cooperative. I have included my comments in brackets. Dear Lynn, [This is right for me. My doctor and I are the same age.] As your doctor,... Read more →