Lynn Gaertner-Johnston, Author at BusinessWritingBlog

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Email

Remove Me from Your List (Politely)

In writing seminars, people frequently say they need a polite way to ask coworkers not to email them jokes, inspirational quotes, and other messages they don’t want or need. Here are a few polite version templates of that “please remove me from this email chain… continue reading

Email

When to Use Bcc

Bcc stands for “blind courtesy copy.” It used to stand for “blind carbon copy.” Although carbon paper is rarely used these days to make copies of letters and memos, the second c in Bcc has remained, and Bccs are now a standard email delivery option.… continue reading

Etiquette

Addressing a Widow

How do you address a widow? I recently sent a note of condolence to a woman whose husband had died. Because I didn’t know her well, I guessed about how to address the envelope. I used this style: Ms. Grace Tomlinson When she wrote back… continue reading

Grammar and Usage

A Tip on Passive Verbs

In a Better Business Writing class this week, we were talking–as we often do–about the use of passive verbs. (These are sometimes called “passive voice” verbs.) We were discussing a letter to which a contract was attached, and the letter included instructions about completing the… continue reading

Punctuation

Commas With “And”

In a Business Writing Skills class last week, a participant raised a familiar question about the use of commas with the word and. She said: I learned the rule that you never use a comma with and. The word and takes the place of the… continue reading

Punctuation

Introducing Multi-Hyphenates

Yesterday Jane from Augusta, Maine, wrote me with this question: A recent article in our newspaper used the word “multi-hypenate” to describe a person. It’s not in any of our dictionaries, including big, little, or medical. I have searched the Internet to find a meaning.… continue reading

Punctuation

Presidents vs Presidents’ Day

Is it “Presidents” Day or “Presidents’” Day? It’s both. The holiday actually celebrates the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the 1st and the 16th president of the US, respectively. Washington’s birthday is February 22. Lincoln’s birthday is February 12. Because the holiday celebrates… continue reading

How to Format Phone Numbers

Let’s discuss telephone number etiquette and try to answer the question “how to format phone numbers.” Some use periods (dots) between the parts of a telephone number while others use parentheses and hyphens. Which style or format is correct? As usual, style guides differ. The… continue reading

Vocabulary

“Timely” or “On Time”?

I recently led a Better Business Writing class for a corporate tax department. It was a highly educated group–people with MBAs, master’s degrees in taxation, and other impressive credentials. I am happy to say that they were educated and sophisticated enough to realize that improving… continue reading

Business Communication

Jargon–To Use or Not to Use?

Jargon is a constant issue for writers: to use it or not to use it. I recently did NOT use it when I should have. Here is what happened: I sent invoices to two clients and included this statement: “Payment is due within 20 days,… continue reading

Author Archives: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston