Lynn Gaertner-Johnston, Author at BusinessWritingBlog

Punctuation

Mens and Womens Glasses?

I stopped by a "vision center" today to get my eyeglasses fixed. While waiting, I noticed the signs above the eyeglass frame displays. They said "Mens" and "Womens." Maybe the apostrophes just wouldn't fit on the signs, which should have said "Men's" and "Women's." Or… continue reading

Grammar and Usage

Why “Them Tools” Is Wrong

Grace wrote and asked me to settle a dispute at work about using them or those in specific ways in sentences. Here are Grace's examples: 1. A. The workman left them tools in the garage. B. The workman left those tools in the garage. 2. A. Please take… continue reading

Grammar and Usage

If I Were, If She Were: Using Subjunctive Verbs With “If”

People have been asking why “If I were” and “If she were” are correct. How can were, a plural verb, be correct with I and she, singular subjects? And does the rule really apply in 21st-century business writing? These correct sentences illustrate the rule: If Mike’s mother… continue reading

graphic stating "no italics? no underline? USE ALL CAPS"

Punctuation

How to Render Titles When Italics Aren’t Possible

Liz wrote the other day with an interesting question: “When writing a Facebook wall post, it isn’t possible (as far as I know) to italicize or underline anything. So how does one properly punctuate titles of works of art/literature? Quotes can work fine for a… continue reading

Punctuation

Wondering About Question Marks?

Today I received a sales message by email that included this sentence in the opening paragraph: I am contacting you today to see if you might have an interest in marketing your product in China? That is a statement. Why does it end with a… continue reading

Grammar and Usage

Can You Pass This Pronoun Test?

We are focusing on pronoun problems that come up in business writing classes. Take the test, and then check your answers. In each sentence, choose the pronoun that is correct according to the rules of grammar. After the concert please give the cash drawer to Lizzie… continue reading

How to Introduce Yourself to a Stranger

I received a LinkedIn request from someone who wants to connect with me. This was the entire message: Lynn, I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. Jeni I do not know Jeni. I do not know why she wants to be… continue reading

Presentation and Formatting

To Indent or Not to Indent Paragraphs

Chelsea, a reader of my monthly e-newsletter, Better Writing at Work, asked me to write about indenting paragraphs in business letters. She wrote, “When writing letters, what is the ‘proper’ protocol on indenting?” There are several proper ways to format a traditional business letter. Only one… continue reading

A dark blue and white background with the words Premiere vs Premier?

Vocabulary

Premiere or Premier?

Let’s have a look at the commonly confused “premier” vs “premiere”. Premiere? I liked the sound and sense of the word to describe a spa resort, but I wasn’t sure about the spelling. What do you think? Premiere or premier? As usual, the experts gathered on… continue reading

Etiquette

Writing to Associates and Friends in Japan

If you are looking for words to communicate your feelings of concern, sadness, and condolence to friends and associates in Japan in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami, I offer the examples below. To communicate most effectively across the language barrier, I have primarily used short sentences… continue reading

Author Archives: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston