Books Archives

Books

How The Elements of Style Can Improve Your Writing

You’ve heard it called by many names: The Elements, Strunk & White, Strunk’s Style Guide. It doesn’t really matter what you call it—just as long as you know what it is and how it can benefit your writing. And because business writing covers a wide… continue reading

Review: Interested in Language? You’ll Love This Book

As an English major in college, I had only one English department class that I did not do well in: I got a C in linguistics, a required class. Phonemes, bilabial fricatives—they bored me to tears. How I wish the text had been this new… continue reading

“Reoccur” or “Recur”? Which Is Correct?

The other day while giving feedback to a client on her customer-service writing, I noticed this sentence: "Once you receive your new card, please contact any merchants with whom you have reoccurring charges." Reoccurring charges? Is that correct? Or should it be “recurring charges”? What… continue reading

ESL Instructors–Is This Book for Ewe?

Today is Book Lovers Day, an unofficial holiday celebrating the love of books. It’s a great excuse to relax and read. I picked an easy book to enjoy, P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever, written by rapper Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter and… continue reading

A Guide to Gender-Neutral Language

It’s LGBTQ Pride month and a good time to start using gender-neutral language if you haven’t started already. That’s words such as people, folks, everyone, they, them, and their, which do not indicate gender. It’s different from the expressions ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters,… continue reading

If You Are a Writer or an Editor, You Need This Book

In an earlier post, I promised to review Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style “in a few days.” That was more than three weeks ago. I’ve been savoring the book, making notes on every chapter. I am now ready to tell… continue reading

Stuck on the Right Words for Sensitive Topics? Get AP 2018

If you create newsletter articles, HR policies, forms, reports, or other pieces that touch on current topics and data, you may catch yourself wondering about word choice: transgender or transgendered? Eskimo or Inuit? Survivor or victim? The latest AP Stylebook (The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law 2018), which came… continue reading

Write It Right in Your New Job

A man recently contacted me about wanting to be successful in his new job. He realized his writing was not what it needed to be. If you have a new job, congratulations! Being successful in a new position requires learning and doing new things and… continue reading

How to Write Mighty Thank-Yous

In my survey on business writing and relationships of 686 adults, 81 percent of respondents said that a thank-you note they received had a definite positive influence on their decision to do business with a company or an individual again. In an informal survey of… continue reading

Recommended Book: Unleash the Power of Storytelling

I expect a book on communication—which is what storytelling is—to teach me something new or remind me of truths I had better not forget. Rob Biesenbach’s Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results surpassed my expectations, and I am happy to… continue reading