Frequently Asked Questions Archives

Whistler’s Apostrophe Challenge

I visited beautiful Whistler, British Columbia, last week and loved everything about it–except perhaps for its free-spirited use and avoidance of apostrophes. Its businesses’ signs kept my writing teacher’s mind spinning. Here’s a challenge for you: See if you can determine which of the signs… continue reading

Is Business Writing the Same as Technical Writing?

People who want to be technical writers often ask me whether business writing classes will help them. I answer yes—because strong business writing skills will help them be better technical writers. But what is the difference between technical writing and business writing? I asked Julie Hale,… continue reading

Knowing the Parts of Speech–and Why You Should

In a recent business writing class, a participant confessed that she didn’t know a pronoun from a preposition–and she wanted to learn the difference. Why? So she could feel confident about using language correctly. Knowing the parts of speech can help you: Recognize which words to capitalize… continue reading

using commas with appositives with example of "My husband, Michael, gets copies of my email."

My Husband Comma Michael Comma

Over the 10+ years of writing this business writing blog, I’ve been consistent about virtually all my style, punctuation, and grammar choices. But there’s one comma rule I’ve flip-flopped on: my husband Michael my husband, Michael, I have just one husband. His name is Michael. In a… continue reading

Clinton’s and Sanders’s Apostrophes

Secretary Clinton and Senator Sanders have differences. But according to the editors at The New York Times, one of them is not the way their names are made possessive. The Times forms the possessive the same way for both of them. Times example: But in the end, Mr. Sanders's populist… continue reading

How to Change Your Writing Style

My friend John has a graceful, sophisticated writing style in which paragraph follows elegant paragraph. John wants to change his style so that it takes him less time to communicate in letters, emails, and other pieces. He also wants his writing to be faster to… continue reading

Cut Unnecessary Prepositions–But Not These

When you cut words to make your business writing more concise, be sure to keep the prepositions you need. Some prepositions bring structure and clarity to your sentences. Learn which ones below. A client wrote to me asking whether he needed to use the prepositions in these… continue reading

Top 10 Writing Errors of 2015

Let's face it. In 2015 typos hid undetected in our writing. So did errors in grammar and punctuation that we would have recognized if we weren't racing to upload, print, or click Send. Mistakes happen. But some mistakes happen over and over–not just from moving too fast but from lack of understanding.… continue reading

Names to Use for Greetings and Envelopes

First name? Last name? His name? Her name? THEIR names? At this time of year, when many people mail holiday greetings, the big questions involve how to render people’s names in the greeting and on the printed envelope: How do I write to two doctors? Whose name… continue reading

Do Not Use Apostrophes to Make Plurals

Please–don’t do it. Don’t use apostrophes to make expressions plural, like this: This photo of a plumbing supply company storefront is NOT for a company owned by people named Spa and Pool. If it were, Spa’s & Pool’s might be the perfect sign. Spas &… continue reading