Global Communication Archives

How to Refer Readers to a Map

I got an email yesterday from the organizers of a literary festival I’m going to attend. It shared reminders about parking and registration. I knew where to park, but I needed to know where registration was. So I went directly to this paragraph: REGISTRATION Attendees… continue reading

What’s in a Name?

In Shakespeare’s play, Juliet professes her love for Romeo despite his rival house and name (Montague). “’Tis but thy name that is my enemy,” she declares. Do you, like Juliet, care about others but regard their names as your enemies? Do you change people’s names to… continue reading

Global Communication

Thank You for Your Understanding

Last week I was working in Luxemburg and vacationing in London. A cross-cultural translation that made me smile appeared on a sign outside my Luxemburg hotel. The sign had to do with visitors needing to ring a bell to be let into the hotel after a certain time at night. The… continue reading

Communication Webinars I Recommend

Webinars have gotten a bad reputation. Too many dense, slow-moving slide decks presented by long-winded speakers have caused people to think of webinars as snoozers. Not only that–plenty of them ooze sales and marketing messages that make participants feel used. That’s why I am here to defend and… continue reading

Global Communication

Cleaning Up “Spots” for Global Readers

Because I appreciate having blog and newsletters readers around the world, I try to recognize words and expressions that do not translate well. Spot is one of those words. I have found it in a variety of pieces I have written, and it is time… continue reading

Recommended Guide: “Caps and Spelling”

My latest reference book purchases are The Canadian Press Stylebook: A Guide for Writers and Editors, 16th Edition, and Caps and Spelling, 20th Edition, also published by Canadian Press. Although I have bought the stylebook before, Caps and Spelling is new to me, and I… continue reading

An email with the body text "I hope this email finds you well"

Opening Sentences for Global Email

Updated: 13 October 2021 Readers have asked me to suggest opening sentences for emails that go to people around the world. The goal of these openers is to avoid coming across as blunt and impolite, especially in messages to people from cultures in which English… continue reading

New Year’s Wishes for 2023

People from around the world have been writing to me in search of the correct wording for new year’s messages to their English-speaking friends and associates. To help them, I have composed these brief messages as models. I hope you find them helpful. Note to international readers: If the… continue reading

How Do You Like Your Holiday Cards?

Cathy wrote to me today, concerned about a possible change in how her team sends holiday greeting cards. In the past they have purchased holiday cards, addressed them to a mailing list of customers and other important people, had everyone on the team sign them,… continue reading

“Few” vs. “A Few”: What a Difference an “A” Makes!

I recently worked on business writing with a manager from India who spoke several Indian languages as well as English. She made an error that I have since noticed in another Indian manager's writing, so I thought it was worth writing about here. It involved using… continue reading